Auctioneer in Tears When Buyers Keep Donating Back Car To Raise Money for 2 Orphaned Children
Community efforts can go a long way.
Sometimes when one family struggles, the saying really does ring true: It takes a village.
For example, when 5-year-old Aurelia was diagnosed with brain cancer and had been fighting it for many years, her neighborhood came together and arranged Halloween in June for her since it was her favorite holiday.
It is intentional acts like this one that go the farthest and makes the most difference.
On Sept. 8, an incredible moment happened involving two Red Deer, Alberta, children whose parents died in a motorcycle accident this past May.
The parents, Brent and Nicole Keryluke, died at 35 and 34 years old on May 5 after their motorcycle collided with a truck.
They left behind two children — 3-year-old Liam and 6-year-old Arielle.
After the accident, the two children went to live with their grandparents and are being raised by other members of their family as well.
The grandparents, Ben and Marilyn Keryluke, took an antique car — a 1973 Pontiac Parisienne that their son had been working on for his son — to Electric Garage Auctions.
While they didn’t want to rid themselves of this special project, they knew they needed the finances because the children have hearing impairments.
The family was shocked by the support they received. Donations starting pouring in on a GoFundMe page. Then, they were even more shocked at what happened at the auction.
“They basically stopped the auction, let everybody know what was happening, where the money was going to go, and then we were shocked what happened after that,” Ben said.
The auction lasted about 10 minutes, and people’s enthusiasm was evident throughout.
People began bidding, winning the car, then giving it back to the family.
First, Rod McWilliams from Red Deer Motors won, then Danny Fayad from Edmonton won the second round and Bob Bevins from Bulldog Metals won the third round.
“He didn’t want to be recognized for it,” Lyndsay Payne, co-owner of EG Auctions, said. “He just went up to Ben personally after the auction and said, ‘You know what? I want your family to have that car so I’m giving it back to you.'”
“It’s been just incredible to see the generosity of people to help a family to be able to raise the children,” Ben said.
What an inspiring story of generosity from the community! Our prayers are with the family as they move forward with the two dear children.
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