An act of kindness by local builders to a nine-year old Chatham girl has received province-wide recognition.
The Chatham-Kent Home Builders Association received the 2016 Ontario Home Builders Association Special Recognition Award at the group’s provincial meeting last week in Collingwood for is Renovation for Evelynn.
The project involved member builders undertaking a total renovation of a home to make it wheelchair accessible for the girl who suffered a near fatal stroke in September of 2015.
The girl was given only a five per cent chance to live after a stroke caused a massive hemorrhage in her brain.
As she began to beat the odds, builders, hearing her story, put together a plan to open up bedroom walls, enlarge hallways and install a wheelchair accessible bathroom at no cost to the family.
By the time she returned in spring, the home was ready and waiting for her.
Home Builders Executive Director Kevin Owen, who along with President Scott Vandersluis accepted the awards, said, “It was an incredible honour to accept this award on behalf of such an amazing association. Every member of the CKHBA should be proud of the work they have done to help.”
Owen said there were tears in the eyes of the audience as Ontario Home Builders Association President Neil Rodgers told the story.
The CKHBA is a not-for-profit organization that was chartered in Chatham over 50 years ago and is affiliated with OHBA & CHBA. Membership is comprised mostly of local businesses related to the new home construction industry.
CKHBA has contributed in excess of over $400,000 to support local needs.
