You’ve probably seen Bobby Henline on TV, speaking about being caught up in an explosion in Iraq — the burns to his face so severe, he had to have it reconstructed.
Or maybe you’ve caught the Comedy Warriors series and have seen his stand-up act where he, along with other injured veterans, have found healing through humour.
Now Henline is bringing the laughter to Langley in “A Night of Inspiration and Comedy” benefitting the BC Firefighters Burn Fund. The event will take place at Cascades Casino on Saturday, Aug. 1.
Henline has a busy schedule, but the American veteran made time and is flying here.
“Once he heard the money raised at this event is going to build a new $14 million burn and trauma centre, he wanted to be part of that,” said fundraising organizer Erik Vogel, a Langley resident who is a board member of the BC Firefighters Burn Fund.
“Bobby’s act is great. We are really lucky to have him here,” said Vogel.
Henline was on his fourth tour in Iraq during Desert Storm when his Humvee was bombed. Everyone in the vehicle was killed but him. More than a third of his body was burned. He needed more than 40 surgeries to repair his face.
“This is going to be a very intimate evening. It should be a cool night of awareness and entertainment,” said Vogel.
The Surrey Firefighters pipe and drum band will pipe in and perform a song before Langley burn survivor Heidi Cave is scheduled to speak.
Cave, now a mother and inspirational speaker, was burned and lost both her feet in a fiery crash in Abbotsford in 1998.
She spent two weeks in a coma and then seven months recovering in Vancouver General’s Burn Unit.
She has written an inspirational book called Fancy Feet, about finding hope in tragedy. She has also become an advocate for the BC Firefighters’ Burn Fund and for the new centre being built beside VGH.
Vogel said the new burn and trauma centre is needed more than ever.
“Heidi spent seven months there. Nowadays, they are releasing burn survivors much faster, even when they still need to return weekly to get their dressings changed.
“This is even happening for patients who live far away. Some are having to stay in hotels nearby,” said Vogel.
The centre, located at Main Street and 23 Avenue in Vancouver, will be a home away from home for patients and families. It will contain eight fully furnished units which will be made available free of charge.
Vogel, a firefighter, has been volunteering at the burn camp for 22 years and was camp director.
He’s met a lot of young burn survivors who have touched his life, including one Langley girl who was burned at a grad bonfire after another teen threw a cup of gasoline on the fire.
That woman is now a camp counsellor.
The Aug. 1 evening includes a buffet dinner and entertainment.
Linda Jones, a local entertainer will be performing.
“Elvis will be in the building,” said Vogel.
Performer Jeff Bodner will close the live entertainment with an Elvis routine, but people can stay and dance to music played by a local DJ.
So far, 13 tables have been sold but there are still half a dozen left.
Tickets are $75 per person. For tickets call 604-436-5617 or go to burnfund.org.
