Charlene Prime had to raise her voice to be heard over the clatter of bottles and cans being sorted on Saturday, June 26, at her family’s fifth annual fundraiser to fight juvenile arthritis.
Prime’s daughter Jaylene, who has battled juvenile arthritis, is doing well, thanks to new medication, but the family is determined to help other children suffering the same condition.
“We just want to keep doing it,” Prime said.
READ ALSO: Langley family gearing up for fifth annual bottle drive to fight juvenile arthritis
Funds raised were for Cassie + Friends, a Canadian charity that helps kids and families affected by rheumatic diseases through research, awareness, connection and support.
David Porte, one of the founders of of Cassie + Friends, was on hand Saturday, and explained his involvement in fighting arthritis in young people started 12 years ago, when his daughter was diagnosed.
“It started with swelling in one knee and in a very short time she had 16 joints involved,” Porte told the Langley Advance Times.
Since its inception, Cassie and friend has grown to help “kids and families with juvenile arthritis across B.C. and ultimately across the country,” Porte said.
Said to be the biggest bottle drive in Canada, the Prime family event was held as a drive-though this year, due to COVID-19 concerns.
Braving the heat, cars and trucks kept coming with bags of donated cans and bottles, dropping them off for sorting on tables beneath an open-sided shady side roof.
Once sorted, bags were piled chest-high outsidet.
READ MORE: Jaylene “pays back” Cassie and Friends
Prime said the annual event has raised $53,000 so far, and was hoping the Saturday event would bring in about $15,000, but a final tally would be a few days coming.
She added the family accepts donations all year round at the gate, at 25095 Robertson Cres. .
Have a story tip? Email: dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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