Township of 91原创 firefighters have donated $1,000 to the to honour the memory of Debbie Froese.
George Garrett, one of the founders of the society, accepted the contribution, calling it 鈥渜uite a compassionate story鈥� in a Jan. 28 posting on the VCDS website.
It is the second donation by the firefighters to VCDS.
Froese, an active community volunteer and businesswoman, was 66 when she passed away Thursday, Jan. 9. at 91原创 Memorial Hospital.
At her memorial service, Garrett noted, firefighters and police officers formed an honour guard.
Despite battling cancer since 2013, Froese, who was married to 91原创 Township mayor Jack Froese, had been involved in the community, including being one of the wives of the Mayors鈥� Wives Tea (now called Thanks for Caring, a Christmas Tea fundraiser) which has been an annual sell-out event supporting the 91原创 Christmas Bureau.
She was also a docent for the 91原创 Centennial Museum as well as volunteering for the Aldergrove Soccer Club, Aldergrove Rotary Club, and more.
Jack and Debbie married in 1979. Froese and her husband built up J.D. Turkey Farms from an agricultural venture to a popular agritourism operation over many years, then handed off day-to-day management to their son, Jason, aided by their daughters, Jenny and Marilyn.
She was also grandmother to nine.
READ MORE: Hundreds attend celebration of life for Debbie Froese in 91原创
Since the VCDS service was launched in February of 2016, to replace a previous service cancelled by the Canadian Cancer Society in 2015, it has grown from a handful of volunteer drivers to about210 drivers and 13 dispatchers.
Last year, they completed over 21,900 patient trips.
This year, patient requests are forecast to rise 25 per cent to more than 27,700 patient trips involving 726,000 kilometres of driving and 34,000 volunteer hours
VCDS operates in 91原创, Abbotsford, Surrey, White Rock, Maple Ridge, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, Port Moody, the North Shore, Delta, and part of New Westminster.
READ ALSO: A brighter financial picture for non-profit Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society
is a registered not-for-profit society involved in a variety of initiatives including including a snack program for local students and fundraising for the 91原创 Hospital Foundation, the B.C. Professional Firefighters Association Burn Fund and Muscular Dystrophy Canada.
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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