A pool tournament raised more than $5,000 for a Courtenay man awaiting surgery to treat scoliosis.
Players gathered on Saturday at Elks lounge. The tournament fundraised for Ethan Baldwin, a 20-year-old who will need to travel to Vancouver for spinal surgery. The event raised $5,120 to cover travel costs for Baldwin and his family.
“It was such a wonderful event and successful considering the timeline,” said organizer Maggie Fidler. She has known Baldwin for a few years through playing billiards together.
In December, Baldwin and his family travelled to Vancouver only to learn his surgery had been cancelled. Now seven years in the waiting for this surgery, his family has travelled back-and-fourth several times.
“When I heard this was their third or fourth trip, I said let’s do this fundraiser,” said Fidler. “And everybody went, ‘yes!’ We really enjoy this young man.”
On Saturday, the tournament helped raise money for the family’s next trip to Vancouver.
There was a silent auction and entry space for up to 64 players, at $20 each. The Elks lounge donated the space, a bartender, and tables.
“I’m glad people showed up,” said Baldwin.
He looked around at the crowd, and told the Record, “I play pool with just about all of them.”
Baldwin said he was in the Vancouver hospital in December when Fidler told him she was organizing the pool tournament. It was right after he had learned the surgery had been postponed.
Baldwin believes it will be three to six months before the next surgery date. He now must overcome health challenges that arose from living with the condition so long, before it is safe to undergo his operation.
Fidler urges anyone interested in donating to the fundraiser to visit gofund.me/d0d9b0fa or reach out to maggieannfidler@gmail.com
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