CHRISTOPHER CROSS
The administrator of Christopher Cross Requests was in wind-down mode on Sunday afternoon.
Malcolm Pitre announced a week ago that the online fundraising campaign for the Beaton family from Alma would end at midnight, March 11.
Pitre and his wife Kelly launched the facebook group, Christopher Cross Requests, on February 18, inviting support for Kim and Gary Beaton and their 12 year-old daughter, Jayden. Kim Beaton is battling breast cancer and her husband has dementia and is awaiting manor placement.
The unique initiative had members promising to make an eTransfer to the Beatons in exchange for the singer of their choice uploading a music video to the page. By Sunday afternoon more than 1,000 videos had been uploaded.
“Tonight is the first step of winding it down,” Pitre said. For an added boost on the final weekend, Pitre was keeping track of donors who tagged him with their request and would be making a draw for 10 pounds of lobster from an anonymous donor.
Although Pitre has asked that no more requests be made after midnight Sunday, he said singers and musicians wanting to respond to requests already made will still be able to upload videos, and members will still be able to click on the videos for their musical enjoyment.
There is already planning underway for some sort of wrap-up event featuring singers and musicians who added their sound to the fundraiser. Pitre said an event is being organized for the Tignish Legion sometime in April.
Pitre said he felt there needed to be an end point to the campaign. Other people are going to need help,” he said, explaining he did not want Christopher Cross Requests to potentially take away from other benefits.
Pitre voiced the enjoyment he got from being part of the unique fundraiser: “It was quite an experience; it was a good ride.”
Christopher Cross Requests by the numbers
How long the campaign ran – 22 days
Number of music videos uploaded – 1,062 (as of 4 p.m. Sunday)
Number of members – 13,659 (as of 5 p.m. Sunday)
Members checked in from – 41 countries.
