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Fundraiser for paralyzed Guy’s Furniture owner sold out

Aug 5, 2016 | 12:05 PM

Tickets have sold out for a fundraiser to support a local business owner after he was paralyzed playing hockey this year.

Peter Frey of Nutec Embroidery helped organize the fundraiser for Guy’s Furniture owner Larry Houle. He said the response from the community is beyond what he expected.

“We’ve just seen fantastic support from the community, matching more than we expected,” he said. “The business community and the individuals in North Battleford have really stepped up for it.”

The fundraiser is Saturday, Aug. 6 at 7 p.m. and will feature a dance, dinner and live auction. Frey said Houle is going to be at the benefit and is excited to come home from the hospital in Saskatoon for it.

“He kind of can’t wait to get down and see everybody. I told him how the ticket sales were going and how things were going and he’s pretty impressed by it, he’s quite moved by it,” he said.

Houle was injured playing recreational hockey in March when he went head first into the boards. The incident left him paralyzed from the neck down.

Frey said since Houle was so active in giving back to the community, businesses and individuals have been eager to help. He said he’s been part of several benefits and is always impressed by how the Battlefords community supports their own.

Even though tickets are sold out, there are other ways to support Houle and his daughters. Nutec Embroidery is accepting donations and there is a Houle family fund set up at RBC.

Frey noted there’s a waiting list for tickets, so if anybody has a ticket and can’t go now, they should contact the organizers.

Sarah Rae is battlefordsNOW’s court and crime reporter. She can be reached at Sarah.Rae@jpbg.ca or tweet her @sarahjeanrae.