A Wallaceburg native is using her voice – and her friends voices – to raise some funds for her ailing parents.
Dee Chatel, who is a former champion of the Homeward Reality Star Search singing contest in Wallaceburg, is gathering up her friends and holding a benefit concert at the CBD Club in Wallaceburg on Friday (April 11.) The proceeds are going towards her parents, Bob and Bonnie Chatel.
“They have been having a tough time with medical transportation costs and respite care costs,” she said. “My father was in the hospital with life threatening surgery just recently. He’s recovering and he just came home a few days ago. We’re really happy about that, but they are going to need a lot of help financially.”
Chatel said her mother, Bonnie, is set to go in for a hip replacement.
“When my mom goes in for her hip replacement and has respite care, my father can’t be by himself at home without some kind of help, so he would end up having to go with her,” she said. “It’s going to be costly for us to make sure that they are both safe. All the travelling is going to be back-and-forth to London quite a bit and Sarnia as well. It’s quite a hike for them. We’re just trying to pull together to help them with that and put on a really good show in Wallaceburg and feature some local talent.”
Chatel said she has no doubt the Wallaceburg community will come forward to help out.
“I do know one thing about Wallaceburg, they do take care of their own,” she said. “In any fundraiser that I’ve heard about, or went to or seen, Wallaceburg really does pull together as a community. Just the amount of sponsors we have so far for this benefit is very overwhelming.”
Chatel said she’s proud of the people that agreed to help out and perform during the concert including: Earl Holley, Lisa Holland, Jamie Huff, Lucas Roe and Granville Boutilier.
“They’ve all put their time out and they are all excited,” she said. “The spirit is high. I really appreciate them helping out. It’s going to be a really special night.”
The event will run from 6 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. in the upstairs portion of the Club.
Cost is $15 at the door, and children 10 and under are free.
