RAKING' in the bucks for Eric Patrick
 

RAKING' in the bucks for Eric Patrick
By Elizabeth Wilson -- Record-Bee staff
Article Last Updated: 03/17/2008 10:53:02 PM PDT


COBB A fundraiser hosted Sunday by RAKE (Random Acts of Kindness and Encouragement) brought in $46,000 for long-time Lake County resident and disc jockey Eric Patrick, who was recently diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease.

RAKE is a three-and-a-half year old organization founded by Rob Roy Golf Club owners Colleen and John Lindstrom.

Patrick, 46, was a disc jockey for seven years and stepped down from the job at KNTI a little over three months ago due to medical problems stemming from his then-undiagnosed Lou Gehrig's disease a progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes loss in muscle movement.

Since RAKE's inception, Patrick has donated his radio-voice and charisma as an auctioneer, and also has provided free entertainment at events performing with his band CAM (Cobb Area Musicians).

"Everybody said they had a wonderful time," Colleen Lindstrom said. The restaurant and golf club received enough reservations to warrant renting tents to accommodate the extra attendees.

They expected 150, the restaurant seats up to 170 and more than 300 showed up. "The live auction brought in $20,800. It was crazy good," Lindstrom said.

Cobb resident Judy Greeran, who explained that like Patrick, her last name is Irish, said

she attended the dinner, donated to the auction and purchased two shamrocks.
The shamrocks were sold during the past three weeks by area merchants to launch the fundraising campaign.

A nod to Saint Patrick's Day and Eric Patrick's Irish heritage, they bore a simple message: "Patrick's Irish Blessing" that resonated with hundreds of the county's residents. They raised $6,000 prior to Sunday. At the end of the fundraiser, shamrock sales totaled $11,641, Lindstrom said.

During the event, $7,600 was raised in a silent auction, dinner sales totaled $6,821, a raffle brought in $1,769 and a donation of $500 came from Lake County Repertory Theatre (LCRT). Patrick has participated as an actor in LCRT.

"It was overwhelming the outpouring of love and generosity that came into this building," Greeran said. "You could feel the vibes everywhere." She said she knows Patrick's wife Laura, who works at Rob Roy Golf Club, and knew of his "good work that he does for charity." This time, the community came to show their appreciation for Patrick, she said.

Laura Patrick said the funds will help their family greatly. "It's just going to be unbelievable. We're just starting to go to UCSF (medical center)," Patrick said. She said it is still early on in Eric's diagnosis.

"We've been to a neurologist in Lakeport, and we're going to start seeking treatment at UCSF he's not working, so it will help pay for whatever costs we incur that the insurance doesn't cover," Patrick said.

She said Eric's band CAM performed and that he "did sing Brown-Eyed Girl."

"That's his signature song for me and he sang a few songs later in the evening," Patrick said.

Lindstrom said RAKE is available to help people in Lake County facing tough times who need immediate help getting "back on their feet with as little disruption in their lives as possible."

"Anyone who knows of someone in need should contact: RAKE at P.O. Box 290 Cobb, Calif. 95426," Lindstrom said.

Contact Elizabeth Wilson at ewilson@record-bee.com
http://www.record-bee.com/local/ci_8608893