Local rockers raise $2,200 for Hospital

By Ken Johnston
Editor

There was a group of ladies at the Rainy River Trade Show that were “Rockin” around the clock for a good cause.
The Rainy River Hospital Auxiliary decided to host a fund raiser on Saturday and challenged its membership to go out and collect sponsors for a rock-a-thon. However, it is not the rock music that comes to mind that they were doing. Instead they took turns rocking in two rocking chairs from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Collectively they raised about $2,200 for projects at Rainy River Hospital.
Fourteen ladies took up the challenge and of those four were the “Top Rockers!” Darlene Armstrong, Betty Blight, Sophie Arpin and Teresa Hazel were the top four, but overall Hosp. Aux. President Myrna Armstrong said they all deserve accolades. “They did fantastic! We never thought we would raise this much!”
While there was some concern that the rockers might rock themselves to sleep and stop rocking, Armstrong said that her daughter Patti Bonhomme made a CD of songs that had anything to do with “rock” including the famed 1956 song “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley and the Comets. “That music kept them awake and drew a lot of attention to our booth,” said Armstrong. “The only one that just about nodded off was Gill Stamler but we kept nudging her to keep her awake!”
Armstrong said they still have a few pledge sheets to come in so the total will likely go up. They hope to use some of the money towards an emergency ultrasound and a special side opening bath tub at Rainy River Health Centre.