Poplar Hill Lions Club reaches $80,000 fundraising goal for wheelchair accessible swing
CTV
With a dream of bringing a wheelchair-accessible swing to Poplar Hill, Rick Castle started collecting bottles and cans.
With a dream of bringing a wheelchair-accessible swing to Poplar Hill, Rick Castle started collecting bottles and cans.
In less than two years, the Lions Club member has managed to pull off the improbable by raising the $80,000 needed.
“I think I’m going to start crying,’ said Castle. “When it first started, maybe half of the club were for it and half were against it - but as it started to go, people got behind it and the snowball got bigger and bigger and eventually we got to where we had to be.”
Between bottles and cans, a barbecue, and an online fundraiser, the Lions managed to get around $55,000. The Municipality of Thames Centre has agreed to put them over the top.
“It went to the Budget Committee, and it has been accounted for in the budget,” said Aina DeViet, Mayor of Thames Centre.
“Giving everyone a chance to participate is totally welcome. This kind of work is really deeply appreciated and it's hard to measure the value of that.”
Castle’s sister and fellow Lions Member Shirley Livingston said the swing has already been ordered.
