BERNARDSTON — Erwin “Bud” Streeter’s life has been touched by cancer on more than one occasion.
In March, Streeter was heartbroken to learn that one of his music idols, 40-year-old Joey Feek of the country duo Joey and Rory, had died from cervical cancer. Having family members that battle cancer as well, Streeter decided he wanted to make a difference in the lives of cancer patients.
Streeter organized a third party fundraiser as part of Wheeling for Healing, an annual bike ride, walk and run that raises money to support cancer care and services at Baystate Franklin Medical Center.
Though the ninth annual event took place on Aug. 21, Baystate Health Foundation Event Coordinator Stephanie Johnson invites local residents to organize their own fundraisers, and said that Streeter is the first to hold a third party fundraiser for the cause.
With help from fellow Bernardston resident Leslie Campbell, Streeter operated a raffle booth at the Franklin County Fair from Thursday to Sunday. All of the proceeds, which Streeter said amounted to $1,020, were donated to Baystate Franklin Medical Center.
Streeter said he came up with the idea after Feek’s death. Even now, six months later, he is stirred to tears thinking about her loss to the country music community. A raffle easily popped into his mind as a way he could raise money for cancer patients.
“I’ve run raffles for nearly 60 years,” Streeter, 87, said.
Streeter pitched his idea of holding a raffle one morning at the United Church of Bernardston, and Leslie Campbell signed up to assist.
“She was eager to be able to help me,” Streeter said, adding that Campbell’s family had been affected by cancer, too.
However, Streeter said he and Campbell do not want recognition for their fundraising efforts. Rather, he wants to draw attention to the cause.
Campbell could not be reached for comment.
The raffle included a John Deere style wagon, which was donated by The Steel Shed, Inc. and Townline Ice Cream; a $50 Sandri gift certificate; and a $50 gift certificate to the Four Leaf Clover restaurant. Raffle winners were chosen Monday at Baystate Franklin Medical Center.
Once fair organizers learned of the fundraiser, they allowed Streeter and Campbell to set up a table beside the grandstand for free. The table also had a donation bucket.
“Everything I got was donated, so 100 percent went to the cause,” Streeter said.
In honor of Feek, Streeter played Joey and Rory’s music at the booth, and hung the duo’s photo on the side. Streeter knew he wanted to raise at least $1,000 for cancer patients, and narrowly surpassed his goal.
“If you make up your mind to do something, you can do it,” he said.
Johnson said that in the past, Wheeling for Healing donations have been used to purchase infusion chairs and new exam tables to improve patient comfort and make the oncology suite “more of a healing environment.”
“People sometimes spend entire days there so we try to make it as comfortable as possible,” Johnson said.
Johnson said Baystate Franklin Medical Center’s oncology suite saves many patients from traveling to Springfield or Boston for crucial treatment.
“We wouldn’t be able to do that without donations and the fundraising that comes from community members,” she said. “Fundraising in the community is really what makes the hospital such a success.”