A weekend fundraiser for Natasha Smids managed to raise just over $6,200.
Smids is the Chatham woman who was seriously injured while working at Truly Green Farms in Chatham on January 6, 2020. She was in an induced coma for a while in a London hospital. The 20-year-old is about to begin her rehabilitation at Parkwood Institute in London.
An excited organizer, Carla Rodrigues-Laevans, said the event at the Ultimate Sports Bar on St. Clair Street in Chatham on Saturday night made $6,224.
Rodrigues-Laevans said she visited Smids on Tuesday night and Natasha was in high spirits.
"Wow what an amazing spirit she has! So positive," she said.
Rodrigues-Laevans said Saturday night was an amazing night and the bar was almost at full capacity. She said it was amazing to see the mayor show up, along with her school mates and a few teachers from the Pines, some co-workers, and her dad, sister, two brothers, and her uncle.
Rodrigues-Laevans is thankful for her husband's band Dirt Country, as well as Hired Hand, and The Robinson Road Revival, who provided the live music. She's also thankful for all of her friends who helped pull the event off.
"We are so so grateful for everyone’s support. I honestly didn’t think we would raise as much as we did," she said. "People dropped $20, $50, $100, also $5. "Every little [bit] counted."
Natasha's family is choosing to keep the nature of her injuries and the length of her rehab private.
