A tractor parade this coming weekend will raise funds for the ongoing programming of a respite and support space for farmers and first responders looking for refuge from stress and anxiety.
Saturday’s Shifting Gears fundraiser will begin at 887 Shetland Road and ends in Florence at the community centre. The parade is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. and is expected to take approximately two hours to complete. Spectators are encouraged to show their support along the parade route on Shetland Road and Lambton Line.
The fundraiser is for Three Oaks Respite Cabin, which is expected to open in November. The cabin will offer support for guests of the cabin, both during and after their stay. The programs will be designed and led by professionals who understand the psychological difficulties faced by farmers and first responders.
The cabin, which is being billed as a quiet place where individuals facing emotional and mental fatigue can seek solace, is the vision of the Bergsma family from Lambton County.
Their son and brother Dalles Bergsma, a farmer and volunteer firefighter, lost his life to suicide in November of 2020. His death made the Bergsma family more aware of how many farmers and first responders were struggling.
For more information about the Three Oaks Respite Cabin or to register a tractor, click here.