Moose 101.1 News director Bob McIntyre (left) co-hosted the Bill Harkins-Eugene Richard telethon with Jamy Bernier for the third year in a row. This was the second year that this was a live broadcast, with hopes of returning to the Iroquois Falls Community Auditorium for next year’s 40th Annual Telethon. (Bob McIntyre, MyCochraneNow.com staff)
A good Christmas for needy families in Iroquois Falls was provided by the 39th Annual Bill Harkins-Eugene Ricard Santa Claus Fund Telethon.
Saturday’s event was webcast live for the second year in a row. President Rick Charlebois said this matches last year’s fundraising momentum.
âWe are overwhelmed with the generosity and support we receive from the community and the community at large,â he told My Cochrane Now Dot Com, âbecause we have – now see – someone from ‘Australia, supporters, so we have a global audience.
The Bellemare of Dinner Plain, Victoria, Australia have pledged $ 20.00.
The pot was just over $ 15,000 when the show ended after about four and a half hours, from pledges. Charlebois says this is not the end.
âLast year, for about two weeks after that, we kept updating the numbers almost every other day, and the numbers kept going up and up and we couldn’t believe it, but it was the case.”
Last year’s final total was approximately $ 22,000.
All the money goes to food and clothing vouchers for needy families in Iroquois Falls. Charlebois says any excess is kept in the bank for rainy days.