CORNWALL, Ontario – It’s a three-peat for Raoul Johnson.
His sinister masterpiece took top spot at the annual Pumpkin Fest in support of Hospice Cornwall on Friday, October 23.
“This feels pretty great actually – it strokes your ego,” said Johnson, owner-operator of R. Johnson Painting.
Over a dozen participants and a generous crowd helped raise over $2,400.
Sandy Collette, fundraising coordinator for Carefor Hospice Cornwall, expects the final tally to reach $3,000, thanks to the support of Bank Of Montreal. The local business is hosting its own version of the event.
“The interest really seems to be growing,” Collette.
Points were awarded for creativity, amount of money raised, and costume. Each carver had 45 minutes to create their jack-o-lantern.
For his winning masterpiece, Johnson received a $100 mall gift card. His spooky entry raised $240.
Pumpkins were sold for $20 after the event to help support the 10-bed end-of-life care facility. Last year, Pumpkin Fest 2014 raised $3,080.
Since Hospice Cornwall only receives partial government funding, every year about $600,000 has to be raised to meet its operational budget.
For more information about the event, contact Sandy Collette, fundraising coordinator for Carefor Hospice Cornwall, at (613) 932-3451 or email scollette@carefor.ca.
