BARRY’S BAY – Hometown heroes come in all ages. That’s the story of eight-year-old Casey Bersan, anyway.
On April 9, Casey celebrated his eighth birthday. He also made the decision to share his celebration with the people of Barry’s Bay.
On the Tuesday afternoon, Casey raffled off his couple of bears he had previously been selling tickets for, to help raise money for the Family helping Family Campaign at St. Francis Memorial Hospital (SFMH).
Family members, hospital staff, campaign members and several others, including Mayor David Shulist, and Honourary Chairman for the foundation’s campaign, Gerard O’Malley, gathered to celebrate the young boy’s accomplishments and birthday.
Casey raised $2,281 to go towards the campaign with his bear-raffling efforts.
“He just heard about the campaign and said, ‘I want to help,’” his mother, Constance Bersan told the Gazette. “He’s always had a heart for fundraising and helping others.”
What’s more, Casey’s always had a special relationship with the hospital Constance went on to say.
When Casey was two-and-a-half, he walked right into a fire pit and got second and third degree burns on his feet.
Constance was in labour with her second child when Casey got hurt, so his grandmother had to bring him to SFMH, and the staff took great care of him, Constance said.
“I think that has always stayed with him,” she continued.
He came to the hospital every day for quite a while, she added.Story continues in the April 17 issue of The Valley Gazette.