Fundraiser planned for Kennedy Langevin
December 7, 2022, 11:21 am
Sierra D'Souza Butts, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Fleming Windsor Hotel, Bar and Grill is hosting a fundraiser to help Kennedy Langevin and her family.
On Dec. 20 from noon to 8 p.m., all of the proceeds made from the restaurant will be donated to Langevin’s family.
There will also be a Chinese auction on display from Dec. 10 to 20 as part of the fundraiser.
Kennedy, a Grade 12 student from Hargrave, Manitoba, was injured in a horse accident at the Carberry fair earlier of this year. She is currently in the hospital with a severe brain injury, and is looking at a long road to recovery.
Her mother, Jodi Langevin, said she appreciates all the support the community has shown.
“The support has been absolutely unbelievable, right from the start,” said Jodi.
“It’s blown us away, I don’t even have words on how much it means to us. We don’t know what the future is with her. As for bringing her home, we’re going to have to make some changes. We’re going to have to buy a new vehicle because we don’t have access to handy vans and stuff in the rural communities.”
Jodi explained how the accident with Kennedy happened.
“On July 2nd, she was barrel racing at the Carberry fair,” she said.
“The horse tripped and stumbled. They did a header, the horse rolled over on top of her. Kennedy sustained a massive head injury.
“I have stayed with her in Winnipeg since. STARS picked her up right in the fair grounds, got her to Winnipeg to have a life saving craniectomy, which is removing part of her skull because her brain was swelling so badly.”
Kennedy is now currently staying at St. Amant Foundation in Manitoba.
“She’s doing okay, we moved her to St. Amant last week where they have new programing for her. She’s still not walking or verbal yet, but hopefully that will come soon.”
Jodi was asked what she is hoping the future is like for Kennedy.
“Every day miracles happen. The brain is an amazing thing and we hope a miracle is still coming, that she’s going to come home, that she will be able to walk, and talk again,” Jodi said tearfully.
“At the end of the day too, I’m just so thankful that she’s still here.
“Eventually we’re going to bring her home when she’s more stable. She has a lot of rehab to still do. We want to be able to bring her home and continue living our lives.”
Owner of Fleming Bar happy to help
Myrna Dingman of Fleming Windsor Hotel, Bar and Grill spoke about why she decided to put on the fundraiser.
“Kennedy’s family has been friends with us for a long time. I worked with her mother, Jodi, and we’ve been friends since,” said Dingman.
“I’m hoping this fundraiser is going to support them because they need so much done to their house before Kennedy can come home.
“I’m hoping it’s going to enable them to do things for their home in making it more wheelchair accessible.
“I’m happy we can do something, I wish we could do more. Right now I’m working on getting some of our food suppliers to supply us with some of the food because the more stuff I get donated, the more profit goes to Kennedy.
“If I can get most of the supplies required for the food donated, then I think it will be a really good fundraiser for her because we’ll be able to give her most of the money taken in, rather than having to pay for the supplies.
“We’re also getting quite a few items for the silent auction. We plan to start the auction on Dec. 10th and continue to sell tickets until the end of the event on Dec. 20.
“We’ll probably get Jodi or someone in the family to pick the winner that night.”
Dingman said Kennedy’s family is going to have to pay for a lot of wheelchair accessible equipment for their home. She is hoping the money raised from the fundraiser can help contribute to those expenses.
“I was looking at what it would cost to buy a chair and it was around $5,000,” she said.
“There’s just so much they would have to change, if their doorways aren’t wide enough then they’re going to have to pay a carpenter to widen it. I’m sure right now, they’re thinking, ‘how are we going to do this?’ I think this fundraiser will help take a big load off of their mind if we can get some money raised towards that, so they can focus more on getting her well enough to come home and not worry so much about what they have to do when they get there.
“I’m also just hoping it gives them a sense of relief.”
Dingman spoke about why she thinks people should come out to support the fundraiser.
“It’s around Christmas right, you want to give around Christmas time. I think that’s a big part of it,” said Dingman.
“I have thought about doing it after Christmas because some people are tapped out and can’t really afford to do much at Christmas. But, I think the other way too is that people are a little bit more giving around Christmas time, and a little bit more concerned about their peers.”
Kennedy’s mom said she is overwhelmed by the support the community has shown over the last few months.
She spoke about what she hopes to see for the future of Kennedy’s recovery.
“The support is just so amazing, it’s humbling,” said Jodi.
“It’s been so overwhelming the way people have supported us and Kennedy. It’s like you didn’t realize how important relationships are.
“I just want to send a great, big thank you to everyone who continues praying for her and thinking of her, and sending messages.
“It’s not only the financial support that means the world to us, because even people being there for us is amazing.”
