Local resident organizes silent auction to support local teen battling brain cancer

January 2, 2020 · 0 Comments

Written By ALYSSA PARKHILL

Local resident, Mira Dimovski Budd, has put together an online silent auction to raise funds for Reese Meyer and his family.

The 13-year-old boy from Caledon East has been fighting the fight, battling brain cancer since November. He has had several surgeries and is currently undergoing chemotherapy.

He is a Minor Bantam rep hockey player for the Caledon Hawks. The hockey community has relied on support and prayers from the Caledon community.

Several NHL players such Justin Holl from the Toronto Maple Leaf’s, and Connor McDavid from the Edmonton Oilers have reached out with kind and supportive words for Reese, to let him know he isn’t alone. Major hockey icons have organized contact with Reese, such as Wayne Gretzky and Hayley Wickenheiser.

A candlelight vigil was held back in November to send love and prayers to Reese outside their local arena. This act of community caught the eyes of Hockey Night in Canada, where Ron Maclean made a shout out to Reese and the Caledon community.

The community has worked together to bring as much support to the Meyer family as possible, including providing financial assistance.

When Dimovski Budd organized this silent auction, she didn’t have to look far for donations. When the word got out over social media, within 10 hours individuals and local businesses reached out immediately and donated items, gift baskets and certificates.

“What happened to Reese and the Meyer family could have happened to any of us, and this is why I think many of us have been so affected by Reese’s story,” explains Dimovski Budd. “People just want to help in any way they can.”

Here is a list of items up for auction:

• $100 Villa Caledon Inn certificate

• Three one-hour massages at Core Solutions

• A framed and signed Auston Matthews authentic jersey

• One-night stay at Nort Creek Resort at Blue Mountain

• Free pizza for a year at Airport Pizza

• Young Drivers of Canada certificate

• $100 gift certificate to Innovations

• $125 classic full set of Luscious Lashes

• $400 gift certificate to Classic Optical

• $50 gift card to Crock a Doodle

• $50 gift certificate to The Consulate Dining Lounge

• Two June and Rose candles

• Two one-hour massages at Core Solutions

• Box of Crest Whitestrips Supreme

• A dozen cookies from The Cookie Platter

• A Drake Apothecary gift basket

• A gift basket from the Salt Cave Bolton

• Silver jewelry set

• A gift basket from Scentsy

• A Circulator Reflexology Mat

• A 32” diameter farm clock from The Painted Farm Clockery

The auction beings at 2 p.m. on Jan 15 and ends at 3 p.m. on Jan 29. With all the current prizes up for bid, the total worth of items equals $4,600. But the fundraising doesn’t stop there.

On Jan 26, the Mississauga Steelheads will face the Kitchener Rangers in a ‘Stick it to Cancer’ fundraiser game where 100 per cent of the ticket sales will be going towards Reese and his family.