On a farm near Grande Prairie, Alberta, there’s a young heifer named Valentine who, with the help of her community, raised almost $30,000 for Compassion House Foundation.
Valentine, with an adorable heart-shaped marking on her forehead, was born on Feb. 14, around the time her owner, Lorinda Wold, was diagnosed with stage 2 ovarian cancer.
A Heart-Shaped Idea
After Lorinda’s diagnosis, she and her partner, Danny, would travel to Edmonton for oncology appointments and Lorinda’s subsequent surgery and follow-ups. They both experienced the supportive community atmosphere during their time at Sorrentino’s Compassion House.
“The first time we stayed, Danny and I instantly felt at home,” Lorinda remembers. The couple stayed at Compassion House over the following months, but after that first night, Danny — a cattle farmer — had a winning idea. They’d introduce Valentine at their friends’ annual bull auction in Rio Grande and sell raffle tickets to raise money for Compassion House Foundation.
The Community Pulls Together
“People from all over the Peace Country come to bid on the bulls that they want to buy, so we held a fundraising Dutch auction for Valentine at the end of the sale,” says Lorinda.
The heifer with the soft patchy heart on her head stole the show. “The bidding kept going and going and going,” remembers Lorinda. “We thought we’d raise a couple thousand dollars, but it snowballed. I cried because I just couldn’t believe it. I was really touched by it all.”
A simple combination of Facebook and word of mouth quickly brought the community together to support Lorinda, Danny, and a cause that benefits women facing cancer and their families.
“It was neat to see the generosity of everyone,” says Lorinda. “We had a lot of close friends and other people calling in — not just people at the auction. Many bought raffle tickets ahead of time, so that was nice.”
Staying Busy and Looking Ahead
Lorinda is on medical leave while she finishes chemotherapy in Grande Prairie, but now that the auction whirlwind is in her rear-view mirror, she says she’s getting restless. “I like to keep busy, and I know it sounds silly, but I look forward to going back to work.” She’s worked in retail management at a locally owned tack and western wear shop for 21 years.
Until she heads back to work, Lorinda fills her days with hobbies such as crafting, crocheting, journaling, watercolour painting, gardening and a steady stream of books. She also loves fishing and often heads out with Danny to their lake lot at Slave Lake.
And Valentine? Bear Creek Animal Clinic held the winning raffle ticket and then generously donated Valentine back to Lorinda and Danny. “We still have Valentine. We’re feeding her, raising her and looking after her until next year’s auction,” says Lorinda, adding that they hope to make it an annual fundraiser for Sorrentino’s Compassion House. “We’d like to halter break her before the next auction so people can come up to her and pet her.”
Until next year, Valentine is home on the farm, reminding Lorinda and Danny of the generosity and healing power of community.
