Help for Willie is Ripe in the Land of the Sleeping Bear

By Norm Wheeler
Sun editor
“It’s just amazing,” says Ken Hurlin. “We thought if a couple hundred came it would be great!” But around 800 people from the Glen Lake area showed up on the deck at Boondocks on Wednesday, June 23, to raise funds to support the care of Willie Hurlin. Willie (the son of Matt and Carol Hurlin and Ken’s grandson) fell while skateboarding on Hlavka Road on June 12 and has been in intensive care ever since with a severe head injury. As the family faced skyrocketing health care costs, Willie’s aunt Kelli Lively approached Patrick Niemisto about how they could organize a community fundraiser. Patrick went to Bob Ewing at Boondocks, and an event was quickly arranged with little time for publicity.

But word-of-mouth travels fast in a small town. Bob Ewing got support from his suppliers to donate some of the food, his brother Bill Ewing donated ice cream, and Stephanie Ewing worked on logistics and organization. Bob donated the deck of Boonedocks and accepted any loss of revenue from his usual customers, and many of Bob’s wait-staff donated their tips to Willie’s cause. Cherry Republic donated Boomchunka cookies, Willie’s pals on the Glen Lake tennis team staffed the donation tables, his aunt Kristen Hurlin sold her amazing art cards and prints, a group of girls including Willies’s cousin made over $200 doing face-painting, and the New Third Coast band donated their fee as the Wednesday night musical entertainment. Patrick Niemisto also gathered many local musicians who donated their time and talent, including the Cabin Fever Band, Laura Murphy, Linda Duwe, Bob Jones, Jason Elsenheimer, Mark Martin, Jeff Richard, and Jim and Hannah Curtis. Several of Willie’s peers and some former Glen Lake students performed as well, including TJ Shimek, Kate McCarty, the rockin’ band Noble Effort, Emily Gordon, and Willie’s cousin Emily Lively, who performed two sets of her original folk music and sold her CD’s as another contribution. And Bob and Linda Turner from the Lakeshore Inn called WCCW Oldies Radio in Traverse City. “The people at the radio station were really sweet,” Linda said. “They made several announcements and received many calls from concerned listeners who made contributions.”
The Glen Lake community stepped up in a huge way and raised approximately $20,000 to help Willie Hurlin and his family. “Most everyone in the community showed up,” observed Bob Ewing. “And that says a lot. Many who didn’t even really know Willie came to make a donation. It makes you feel good about living here. It was amazing.”