Posted on 09/26/2010 1:27:19 AM PDT by Daffynition
Hundreds of people flocked to a yard sale in Kingston, Ont., on Saturday after hearing a nine-year-old boy wanted to raise money to buy a headstone for his dead father.
"I just felt bad because there was no gravestone, so I wanted raise money to buy a gravestone," said Blake McGinness.
Blake's father, Rick Lees, who died last year of a stomach aneurysm, is buried at the Wilmer Cemetery just outside Kingston. His gravesite is currently marked only by some of Blake's toys, as the family couldn't afford a gravestone.
News of Blake's yard sale spread, prompting hundreds of people to drop by to pick up merchandise, shake Blake's hand, with many looking for an excuse to drop off some money. One man drove from Montreal to donate a stick signed by the Montreal Canadiens.
"I don't think every kid would do something like this, you know, sell all his toys so he could buy a headstone for his father," said one participant. "How could you not come?"
Thousands of dollars were raised Saturday and thousands more have been donated to a trust fund through the Royal Bank.
"It's awesome, it's amazing. We've heard from people, as far away as soldiers in Afghanistan. A company even in Texas offered to donate the gravestone," said Blake's mother, Linda McGinness.
With the costs of the gravestone covered, Blake told the Kingston Whig Standard he plans to donate proceeds from the yard sale to Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children.
"Now I know there's a lot of good people out there," Blake said.
Thank you for posting this wonderful story.
A blessed Lord’s Day everyone!
What a bitter-sweet story. Thank you for posting this.
BLAKE MCGUINESS:
“I’VE WANTED ONE FOR MY DAD FOR A LONG TIME AND I JUST THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE NICE. SO I’M HAPPY.”
Bttt
Thanks for posting this story. Looks like his folks instilled strong values from the beginning.
Prayers for him and his Mom.
Blake McGinness and his mother, Linda, sit where he wants his father, Rick Lees', headstone to go at the Wilmer Cemetery north of Kingston on Monday. (IAN MACALPINE, QMI Agency)
Ping.
I thought this was heartwarming and bitttersweet.
Yes, Blake - and you're one of them.
Yes: It’s good to see a story like this once in a while among all the bad garbage we get to read.
So shines a good deed in a weary world.
Thanks for posting this.
The good that Blake Lees has done for his father is going to follow him all his life, and Rick Lees can rest peacefully knowing that his son has already become the ‘man of the house’. May the Lord be with this boy and his family.
What a touching story!
Thanks for posting it.
God bless this family.
Amen to that!
As short as his dad’s life was, he raised a good human. Bless them all.
You’re very welcome. We need more uplifting stories like this in these trying times. ;)
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