Tickets going fast for Third Annual Linda Johnston Memorial Alzheimer Dinner

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Mark your calendars for January 23rd as it is time for the Alzheimer’s annual fund raising meal in Rainy River.
“A Dinner to Remember” has been extremely popular the past several years with tickets completely selling out the last four years.
This is the third year the fundraiser is being called The Linda Johnston Memorial Alzheimer Dinner to Remember. Linda passed away three summers ago after a battle with cancer. She was instrumental in organizing the previous Dinner’s To Remember and other Alzheimer Fundraising events in Rainy River. This is the seventh annual dinner.
Again this year, as in years past, her family and friends have been busy organizing the event and will be working it.
Linda’s husband, Chef “Uncle” Bob Johnston, has promised that his secret roast beef recipe that has earned the event a reputation of excellence the past five years, will again please everyone’s taste buds.
In addition to the roast beef dinner and all the trimmings, there will be a penny table which also sold out the last few years. Volunteer, and long time event supporter Marlene McNally, is busy getting all the donated items together for it. Anyone wishing to add an item can drop it off at the Rainy River Record office at 312 3rd St. during normal business hours.
The Fifth Annual Chairs for Charity raffle going on in town. Local artists Patti Diebel and Vivian Locking and Gregg Armistead have generously donated their talents and time to make an old chair into a work of art. They are truly beautiful and make a great conversation piece as well as home decor. Tickets are available at the Record Office, the Legion, Bergland General Store and Rainy River Drugs, as well as from Record Office Staff members and other Alzheimer volunteers. They cost $2 each or 3 for $5.
Two chairs are on display at the Record Office with two more enroute to the office this week. The draw will be held at the dinner. All proceeds from the event will go towards local Alzheimer’s Society programs.
Tickets for the dinner are $12 each and there are only 100 advanced tickets left and 20 reserved for shut ins (to go orders). Tickets are already selling fast, so if you are planning to attend get yours today!
To order a “To Go” meal call the Record at 852-3366 and put your name on the list. Long time volunteers Tom and Bonne Irvine will be delivering them that evening.
The dinner is being held in the Rainy River Legion Hall. The doors will open around 4:30 p.m. for the Penny Table. Anyone can participate in the penny table and the chairs for charity raffle. Dinner will be served at 5 p.m. and all raffle draws will be made after supper. Last year the event raised over $3,200, up from previous year!
In a further effort to show appreciation for Linda’s efforts, the Kenora-RR Alzheimer Society created a bursary, for students entering the medical field to work with Alzheimer Patients, in her honour two years ago. Anyone can donate to it anytime. The donation is tax deductible and envelopes for people to donate will be on the tables at the dinner. While no one qualified to receive it last year the money is in trust and it is hoped that a student will be eligible to receive it this year.
The Kenora-Rainy River Alzheimer Society spends all the money it raises locally in local programs.