A dance and auction held on October 8 raised $72,500 for the Madison Scott search and rescue fund.
“I was hoping for $50,000,” said one of the organizers of the event, Julie Hodson.
“People in this town are just amazing – if you have a crisis, this is a place to live,” she said.
The event was hosted at the Friendship Centre by local resident Brian Frenkel. Over 250 people attended the sold-out event and over 100 people were on the waiting list for tickets.
As well as a dinner and dance, both a live and a silent auction were held.
“The total amount raised included table sales, liquor sales, a 50-50 draw and the auction items … but in our live auction alone we had 25 items and we made $35,000 off those 25 items – that’s insane,” said Hodson.
Items included Canucks tickets which went for $3,400, a sleigh ride that sold for $1,700, a quilt sold for $900, a fresh turkey went for $400 and a 2006 original signed team poster donated from the personal collection of Olympic Hockey Team Captain Hayley Wickenheiser sold for $2,000.
Over 100 items were donated for the auctions – other items included wine, art from Prague, furniture, a coin collection and many more.
“During the live auction we had a little John Deere kids tractor donated – and the bids just kept climbing and climbing and when it hit the $2,000 mark people just started clapping – that’s when I knew we were good and that this was going to really take off,” said Hodson.
“The whole spirit of the evening was huge – it was just awesome … even during the live auction people were bringing stuff up.
“People were actually running back to their businesses and bringing stuff back … people just wanted to give,’ she added.
Another emotional highlight of the evening was a performance by one of Madison’s cousins Nils Kelly who sang a song that he wrote for her.
Madison’s parents, Dawn and Eldon Scott did not attend the event but were kept updated throughout the night. Madison’s aunt Sandra thanked everyone on behalf of the family.
All money raised will go into supporting a continued extensive private search for Madison, both human and canine.
The event was held on the 133rd day since Madison Scott was reported missing by her parents to the Vanderhoof RCMP.
Madison Scott left Vanderhoof on Friday May 27 with the intention of camping overnight at Hogsback Lake, 25 kilometres south of Vanderhoof.
She was last seen by friends at the lake at 3 a.m. on May 28.
Her family called the Vanderhoof RCMP detachment on Sunday May 29 at 2 p.m. when she failed to return home. Police who attended the area located her tent and her truck, but extensive search efforts to locate her have been unsuccessful so far.
Madison is described as a 20-year-old Caucasian, five feet, four inches tall, 170 lbs with ginger hair. She was last seen wearing a black T-shirt and blue jean Capri pants.
The RCMP are requesting the publics assistance in finding Scott. Anyone who may have seen Madison or may know of her whereabouts should contact the Vanderhoof RCMP detachment immediately at (250) 567-2222. If you wish to report something anonymously you can also call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
