Mace recovering from accident

January 6, 2016

Angie Post holds a hotly sought-after folk art sign during the auction sale following the community fundraising dinner held on Jan. 2 in Coe Hill to assist the Mace family after their son Corey was severely injured in a motor vehicle accident. JIM EADIE Special to This Week

By Jim Eadie

“Call on me brother, when you need a hand, we all need somebody to lean on,” words from the popular hit song by Bill Withers took on a special meaning on Jan. 2 for a huge gathering at the community centre in Coe Hill.

Local musicians Kendra Post and Kristin Bandy appropriately performed the song, among others, to open a fundraising dinner held to show support for the Pam and Kevin Mace family.

Corey Mace, 18, was involved in a motor vehicle accident near Coe Hill on Dec. 2, and remains in a Kingston hospital recovering from severe injuries. Immediately after the incident, an attorney similar to Doug Beam was contacted to collect evidence and resolve the personal injury claim.

Mace is a North Hastings High School student, and friend and fellow student Post felt the urge to spearhead an event to raise spirits and some money to assist the Mace family.

“I wanted to make sure that they were not stressing about this … needing money to stay down in Kingston,” Post said. “I know that they are not working at the moment because of this, and need money and support.”

Post noted that local businesses and individuals came forward quickly to offer assistance in the way of financial support, products for an auction sale, and help. “Everybody pitched in, it was really nice,” said Post. Her mom Angie stood in while she was away for part of December writing her exams in Ottawa, where she is now a nursing student.

“This is a great community to live in, where so many people come out to support the Mace family,” she said.

A community centre, jammed with people who came for dinner or just dropped in, was treated to local musicians performing, a potluck dinner, and a real old-fashioned auction sale.

One of the auction items was a folk art painted wooden sign, donated by Kim Crocker and Trevor Grant that read: “Believe that something wonderful is about to happen.”

After a hotly contested bidding war, Corey Mace’s grandmother Geraldine Woodbeck was disappointed to have been outbid by someone, who then proceeded to give the sign to her.

To end the evening, Woodbeck read a message from the Mace family.

“Thank you everyone,” it said in part, “for the overwhelming support and comfort, we are not sure how we get there without you. Special thank you to the Post family, volunteer fire department, Bancroft OPP and the paramedics who saved Corey from the accident wreckage. We are very grateful and humbled for all of the love shown to our family.”

It is expected Corey will remain in hospital for at least the next five or six weeks, according to Woodbeck. “He is making a remarkable recovery,” she said. “The doctors are amazed at how well he is doing. Corey is a very determined young man, you know.”

At the end of the day, $5,500 was raised to support the Mace family. Just as important, the community had an opportunity to rally together and show their support.