Headline News

Local resident finishes final fundraising effort

December 20, 2024   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

After nearly 45 years of raising funds for good causes, Tottenham resident, Eva Bradley, has finished her final event.

For almost a year, Ms. Bradley has been raising funds through her Toonies for Tecumseth initiative in support of Our Town Food Bank in Tottenham and S.H.I.F.T in Alliston.

She held a raffle and bake sale at the Tottenham Legion, attended the Beeton Honey Festival and the Tottenham Street Festival with homemade knitted and crocheted items, and had donation jars scattered around town.

On Monday, Dec. 10, she gave a cheque for $2,000 to S.H.I.F.T. in Alliston, which provides emergency shelter services to homeless individuals.

Toonies for Tecumseth wrapped up at the Cedar Kitchen Restaurant in Tottenham when restaurant owners Sherri Bailey and Danielle Leslie donated the funds from coffee sales and held a bake sale.

Over the year, Ms. Bradley had help from several good friends for her fundraising efforts.

Now it’s time to take it easy and let someone else take up the torch.

“I’m now 83 years-old,” Ms. Bradley said. “My body is tired, I have to think about myself. But it was worth it. If I’ve helped one or two people – it was worth it.”

Mr. Bradley started fundraising in 1980 when she took part in the Terry Fox Run.

“This is my last fundraiser. I started back in 1980 with Terry Fox. I gave six or seven years to Terry Fox. I went from there to different things. I raised money for heart and stroke, I had garage sales, I knitted, I did needle work. For a while I decided to do something in support of animals. I did the Alliston hospital, raised money for breast cancer, and this our fifth time raising money for the food bank. My main goal was to give back to Canada. I came here as a 15 year old girl and a refugee. I want to give back to the people and country that helped. People were really good to me when I arrived here. Now, I think it’s time to focus on myself.”

Ms. Bradley raised over $10,000 during the course of the year.

The funds will go a long way for Our Town Food Bank and S.H.I. F. T.

Readers Comments (0)