Cpl. Jean-René Michaud is still recovering in hospital.
Image Credit: Courtesy Ashcroft-Cache Creek Journal (with permission)
December 22, 2014 - 2:33 PM
KAMLOOPS – Citizens who want to support Cpl. Jean-Rene Michaud’s family as he recovers from a shooting can do so by purchasing a ticket to a dinner and dance to be held next month.
Nick Grabas has never met Michaud, but says the impact of the officer’s story made him decide to hold a fundraiser so the community of Kamloops could help the family. Michaud is still recovering in hospital from a gunshot wound received while conducting a traffic stop earlier this month. He endured two surgeries and was placed in an induced coma, but is now awake and has since been transferred out of the intensive care unit.
“You don’t have to know somebody to do something good,” Grabas says. “(Michaud) might’ve just taken a bullet that someone else in this town might’ve got... (The police) are putting their lives in danger every day.”
The event will be held at Lorne Street’s Sandman Hotel on January 24. A band will provide live music and Grabas is acquiring door prizes for guests.
“The response has been tremendous,” Grabas says. He added that a wakeboard and boots have already been donated along with hotel gift certificates, iPods and more. His shop, Anything Paint and Auto Body has donated a $5,000 gift certificate to the event. Grabas says the gift certificate can be spread amongst friends and doesn’t need to go towards body work on one vehicle.
Tickets are $100 and can be picked up either at Grabas’ shop at 904 Victoria Street or the front desk of the Sandman Hotel. Grabas says if it’s too difficult for someone to make it out to pick up a ticket, he’ll deliver it himself.
“I will certainly shut the doors and go deliver them a ticket,” he says.
To contact Grabas, call 778-471-1941.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Glynn Brothen at gbrothen@infonews.ca or call 250-319-7494. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014