When Average Joes cook Lorne Miller got hit by a car while cycling home from work, Jan. 26, the community of Lethbridge stepped forward to help him and his young family. People have donated cash and gift cards and even offered rides for his wife and four children (Two still at home) to go to Calgary to visit him in Foothills Hospital.
People are stepping up again to buy tickets to a big fundraiser, March 6 featuring well known songwriter Tebey Ottoh and Leah Daniels.
“ The public really stepped up. I couldn’t believe it,” said Average Joes manager Tim Carter.
“ He’s still in a coma and is still on life support. He’s paralyzed on the left side with lots of complications,” Carter related, trying not to speak of him in the past tense.
He has since come out of the coma, is semi-conscious and can give non-verbal responses like nodding his head and moving his right hand.
Though he was only at Average Joes for a year, he made a huge impact on everybody he met.
“ He was a big, vibrant , teddy bear who would do anything for anyone. He was so nice and positive. His presence at the bar is terribly missed. We’d do anything to have him back. He was a great guy. He really was an ‘average joe,’” Carter continued.
“He was a hard working family man, so that resonated with a lot of people. That could have happened to anyone,” he said.
“ The public has stepped up huge. So we decided to take it up to the next level,“ Carter said.
Proceeds from a silent auction will all be donated to the fundrasier. Donations are starting to come in, with more on the way.
Toronto born, Nashville based songwriter Tebey Ottah has written hits for pop stars One Direction, Big and Rich, Emerson Drive, Doc Walker and Shawn Desman. He has also released two solo records.
The show begins at 9 p.m., March 6. Tickets cost $15. 50 per cent of each ticket sold will go to Miller’s family.
