A classic car auction in Red Deer fuelled high emotions last weekend when about $100,000 was raised for two kids who lost their parents in a highway crash.
Brent and Nicole Keryluke were killed May 5 when their motorcycle collided with a truck near Innisfail, Alta. Their two young children, Liam, three, and Arielle, six, are now being cared for by their grandparents, Ben and Marilyn Keryluke, with help from other relatives.
Ben had been semi-retired before he became his grandchildrensa国际传媒檚 guardian. He now needs to return to full-time work, though he must also spent his days driving the kids to and from school and appointments with specialists in Calgary.
Both kids have hearing impairments and need to wear hearing aids. With the prospect of mounting medical costs, Ben decided to auction off the 1973 Pontiac Parisienne his late son, Brent, had been restoring on the block.
It was a reluctant decision, said Ben, who can still recall the day his son opted to restore a Parisienne instead of a muscle car. sa国际传媒淗e said he wanted a four-door, so the whole family could ride around in it.sa国际传媒�
The Parisienne was auctioned on Saturday. What happened at the sale amazed Lindsay Schwindt, who runs Electric Garage Auctions with her husband. She said shesa国际传媒檚 never before seen such an outpouring of love from people who didnsa国际传媒檛 even know the Keryluke family.
sa国际传媒淭here wasnsa国际传媒檛 a dry eye in the place,sa国际传媒� she recalled. sa国际传媒淚 knew our buyers and sellers would step up to help, but I didnsa国际传媒檛 expect anything like that.sa国际传媒�
The car first sold for $29,000 to Rod McWilliam of Red Deer Motors, who donated it back to the family so more money could be raised.
The Pontiac next sold for $30,000 to Danny Fayad, of Edmonton, who donated it back again.
It was finally sold for a third time to Bob Bevins, of Red Deersa国际传媒檚 Bulldog Metals, for $20,000 sa国际传媒� and he gave it back to Brentsa国际传媒檚 kids so they could continue to have this legacy from their dad.
The Schwindts, who also waived their commission and sellerssa国际传媒� fees for the sale, were astounded to see a dozen or so other people at the auction donating cash to the family. sa国际传媒淢y heart was absolutely fullsa国际传媒� I still get choked up talking about it,sa国际传媒� said Lindsay.
Ben and Marilyn are sa国际传媒渨ay beyondsa国际传媒� grateful for all the community support sa国际传媒� both at the auction and through an online fundraiser account, which has so far raised $78,000 for the children.
Ben said the money will help him worry less about their future.
As for the Parisienne, sa国际传媒淲e cansa国际传媒檛 sell it now!sa国际传媒� added the grandfather, with a laugh.
Hesa国际传媒檚 hoping Arielle and Liam will someday take it for a spin.
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