Mark Thomson’s fundraising efforts to make his Okotoks church more accessible will continue next month with a benefit concert.
Thomson has lined up Alberta recording artist Doug Rawling to perform at Grace Lutheran Church on Saturday, May 6 at 2 p.m.
Proceeds from the show will go into a fund to install an elevator lift to make the basement of the church accessible to all.
“I feel very passionate about it,” Thomson said of the project. “I want to remove barriers that maybe others in town don’t see. I feel all buildings in this town should be accessible, not just this church.”
Thomson had never met Rawling but reached out to him to see if he’d be willing to perform a concert to support the cause.
Rawling, whose musical career dates back to the 1970s, is probably best known as half of The Rawling Brothers, a grassroots-country-folk duo that sold over 50,000 albums and enjoyed much radio air play. Influenced by folk, bluegrass, country and rock, Rawling’s unique sound is complemented by honest, down-to-earth lyrics about faith and life.
Thomson began fundraising about a year ago with a garage sale and followed that up with a silent auction/Christmas sing-along and his own Christmas CD. He originally was raising money for a ramp, but has since learned that’s not feasible space-wise, so the project has morphed into an elevator lift.
He said anyone with mobility issues that can’t navigate the stairs to the basement is unable to access the hall used for fellowship activities and rented out for various functions and classes. The church’s washrooms are also located in the basement.
“Someone in a wheelchair couldn’t access the bathrooms downstairs, so it just shows how much my project is needed,” Thomson said.
Fundraising and donations are now approaching $4,000 but that’s a long way from the goal of $140,000 to make the lift a reality.
Thomson is undaunted by the challenge, instead focusing on the need to make the church accessible for both the congregation, which is supportive of the initiative, and members of the public. He said they will also pursue grants to help finance the project.
The concert is the next step in adding to the total and Thomson is hopeful there will be a good turnout.
“We’re hoping to pack the place,” he said, adding everyone is welcome.
There are no tickets for the concert, but donations to the elevator lift project will be gratefully accepted.
