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Re: Community fundraiser

We would like to thank everyone who helped make our June 19 auction and fundraiser a huge success.

On March 19 Andrew was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer.

Andrew's doctors in Fredericton, Saint John and Toronto recommended Avastin, but New Brunswick does not fund the drug.

We have Blue Cross coverage, but they say that the province should be covering it as it is administered in hospital.

The province says they can't cover Avastin without the help of the federal government. Seven other provinces have found a way to fund it.

We hope the newly appointed minister of health will act soon.

As a show of support, 450 people from Fredericton and surrounding areas attended our fundraiser. Together we raised $50,200.

We would like to thank everyone who attended, including Fredericton, Oromocto and surrounding area businesses and individuals who generously donated 300 auction items; the Concerned Realtors of NB, and Oromocto Fire Department for their donations; the band, One Acre Lot; emcee Trevor Doyle of Capital FM; and Jillian Magee, who coached us and was auctioneer.

A special thank you goes out to the fundraising committee, our dear friends, who tirelessly gave their time to help pull the event together in five weeks. We are forever indebted to you and to your spouses for your help, encouragement and support.

Last but not least, we would like to thank all of the volunteers who came out and pitched in to do whatever it took to help.

The money raised will ease the financial burden on us to fight this cancer.

Everyone in attendance showed what true community spirit means and that people do care.

We hope this display of generosity may inspire other communities to help those in the same situation.

Andrew & Rosemary Goodridge

Lincoln, N.B.

Slow down and use some driving manners

Re: Bridge traffic

At about 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, as I was trying to access the Westmorland Street Bridge from the north side, I experienced the lack of thoughtfulness that about 12 motorists (if not more) showed by not allowing me to enter the flow of traffic.

In fact, I had to sit - like a sitting duck - at the far reaches of the access lane as the traffic went like a "bat out of hell" during a rather heavy downpour.

I can't for the life of me understand why motorists don't slow down during rainstorms and also why they don't make more use of the lane closest to the centre line as soon as they get on the bridge so that motorists like myself can have a reasonably good chance of accessing the bridge from the ramps.

I doubt if things would be any different even if we had a 10-lane bridge.

Ever since I moved to the north side some 11 years ago I have made good use of the Marysville bypass and the Princess Margaret Bridge, but now that the newest ramp connecting to Cliff Street has been opened, I'm making better use of the Westmorland Street Bridge.

By the way, accessing that ramp can be nerve-racking too as the traffic from St. Anne's Drive is not too anxious to give those of us shifting lanes to access that exit ramp much time to do so. We certainly have plenty of tailgaters around.

Anyway, at the rate that the Princess Margaret Bridge is falling apart, it won't be long before motorists will have no choice but to slow down as there will be one heck of a traffic nightmare when the Princess Margaret Bridge is closed for good - which might be a lot sooner than one thinks.

It's too bad that the powers that be some 40 years ago didn't have the foresight to reserve land for twinning the present Princess Margaret Bridge. I guess it never occurred to anyone that Fredericton might just expand in 40 years.

Joseph A. Cyr

Fredericton

Take a lesson from Changes

Re: Employment for the needy

First I want to thank The Gleaner for its constant support to those in need. This is addressed to all those who also want to help.

After my book, Supernatural & Paranormal Experiences of 5 Typical & Related Families, I was inspired to write What Life Is About. I had difficulty with a good introduction until I had a dream.

In my dream I was struggling with how to help others. There were several people trying to advise me. I had several ideas I thought they would suggest. After a lot of discussion, I finally said, 'Just tell me what you want me to do.'

The answer stunned me. The leader said they wanted me to work for a local motel chain. I could not believe this was the thing to do. After a few minutes of careful thought, I responded with, 'Do I have full authority to do whatever I want while employed with that company?' The answer was yes.

Then in a flash I realized what I could do with the resources of the company and with my freedom to hire those less fortunate people who want to work but are considered unemployable for many reasons.

The work done by Pat Carlson with her Fredericton non-profit company Changes immediately came to mind. I thought of all the good I could do by using her approach to hiring people and to training those people in how to work. I also realized the additional help I could give to those people already working for the company.

While looking out for the good of the company, I could help so many people in so many different ways.

When Pat first came up with her idea, many said it would not succeed. Pat's work is definitely a success story and others could learn from her and follow in her footsteps.

Clarence Parker

Fredericton

Stop holding up traffic

Re: Letter published June 20 called

Why are you in such a hurry?

I, too, am glad that school is over.

Although I do not mind how long it takes a smaller child to get off the school bus, I do mind that people feel it is their right to further hold up cars by gabbing with the bus driver until someone is forced to beep their horn.

This is all happening with your child standing beside you. It is not your right to impede traffic for as long as you want to, but instead assist the driver by removing your child in a safe but timely manner.

Ed Rowlinson

Mazerolle Settlement, N.B.