The family of Neil and Ann Nickel suffered a tragedy this fall when Neil flew to Bolivia to visit family. While there, he fell critically ill and required emergency surgery. On top of that, he also suffered a stroke.
Ann, the recently retired librarian at the high school, flew with her two daughters to be with him. Once his health stabilized, he was air-ambulanced back to Canada.
But the costs for all this were daunting.
As a way to help out, Dylan Asmundson and two close friends, Cory Ellis and Dylan Butler, decided to host a bingo fundraiser to help raise funds for the Nickel family.
“We decided to raise money for this because for as long as we have been in high school, Mrs. Nickel was always there to help us in any way she could,” says Asmundson, “whether
it was to help us with any questions during tests, somehow always having pens for us, and putting up with our overdue library books.”
The fundraiser, held at NCI on Thursday, January 14, was a success. Around $3,500 was raised.
“It blew our minds how supportive everyone was,” says Asmundson. “We would like to thank our teachers, our school secretaries, every business who supported or donated, and everyone who came out. And of course everyone who volunteered. None of this could have happened without any of you.”
Unfortunately, The Citizen has since learned that Neil Nickel has passed away, succumbing to an infection in hospital. Our thoughts are with the Nickel
family at this difficult time.
