Five years ago the staff at ADL Foods in Summerside lost a special friend and co-worker in Jackie Praught. And over the past five years, the staff group has made a special gift to Lights for Life in memory of their friend in a way they thought was fitting and would have pleased him. In an interview with the Prince County Hospital Foundation, Gwen Murray, Purchasing Manager of ADL Foods said, “Jackie was a man who helped everyone he met. And he would have liked to know that even in death; he was still helping all of those who visit the Prince County Hospital.”
The staff of ADL Foods runs various fundraisers throughout the year to gather $2000 and dedicate the display “A Special Delivery” in memory of Jackie Praught. Their gift in memory of a friend and co-worker supports the needs of their whole community, as all of the funds raised through Lights for Life are used to purchase much needed medical equipment for the Prince County Hospital. Not only are they able to make this gift, but on December 1st, they will gather as a group to attend the Lights for Life ceremony and watch Jackie’s display light up for the holiday season. They’ve made it a night they each put aside annually to remember their friend.
Three years ago, when talking Foundation staff about dedicating a display in Jackie’s memory, the ADL Foods staff group were told new items were being added to Lights for Life and perhaps something special might be done. Through this unique situation a great coincidence formed. The Foundation staff and Lights for Life committee came up with a display they wanted to add – a horse and sleigh pulling a Christmas tree. What they didn’t know was that for years, Jackie Praught and his father cut down and hauled trees out of their woodlot. A fitting tribute for a man who Gwen Murray said “helped everyone and touched every person he worked with.” With Jackie in mind, the Foundation named the new piece “A Special Delivery,” to denote his position as a truck driver for ADL.
Murray said the staff liked Lights for Life because “everybody wins, whether it (the gift) is in honour or in memory, the money all goes to the hospital so people feel their doing well and they’re honouring someone at the same time”
Photo:
Staff of ADL Foods including Dwayne Gallant, far left, Cindy Fraser, second from left, Gwen Murray, third from left, and Mike Arsenault, recently made a $2000 donation to the PCH Foundation’s Lights for Life campaign. They dedicated the display “A Special Delivery” in memory of their friend and co-worker Jackie Praught who died suddenly 5 years ago due to an aneurysm. Praught had worked for ADL for over 30 years and according to co-worker Cindy Fraser, “he was more than just a co-worker, he touched us all.”
