After launching the Do It For Sarnia campaign over three years ago, Dan Edwards may soon see his dream come true.
Edwards kicked off the fundraising initiative to help raise money for Mental Health and Addiction Services at Bluewater Health, with a downtown block party in 2016.
Bluewater Health Foundation Executive Director Kathy Alexander said so far nearly $90,000 of the $150,000 goal has been raised. She says this weekend's sold out Block Party, featuring The Trews, will help get them that much closer to the finish line.
"The LiUNA presents Do It For Sarnia event really is a wonderful way to bring people together, to not only celebrate and listen to fabulous music but to raise funds for a very important cause in our community, which is mental health and addictions at Bluewater Health," said Alexander. "And with generous sponsor support and alcohol and food purchases and tickets bought, we anticipate that we will net about $50,000 from the Trews concert."
Alexander said she hopes the LiUNA Do It For Sarnia Block Party will be able to continue, once the fundraising objective is realized.
"Dan is a remarkable person and he's actually is a foundation board member now as well because of his incredible commitment supporting mental health and addictions at our hospital," said Alexander. "The block party is his baby and we know that we need his help to continue it. We're hopeful that Dan will stay involved with the block party, like I said, none of this would have happened without his idea to pay it forward with response to the generous response he received when he had his accident."
Edwards launched Do It For Sarnia in response to the generosity he received from the community following a freak accident in 2006 that left him paralyzed.
Gates for Saturday's block party at Centennial Park open at 6 p.m.
Further details are posted on the Bluewater Health Foundation's Facebook page.