GIVING BACK

Family honours loved one with fundraiser

TRENTON - Jeff Head was a friend to all he met, and that included animals.

The Trenton native passed away suddenly on April 1 of this year leaving behind his wife Heather, daughter Lailee, his Bernese Mountain dog Molly, his mom Bernadette (Bernie) McKeiganWithers, stepdad (Allan Withers) and many other family members. His passing left a hole in the lives of those who loved him most.

Because Jeff was such a caring and compassionate individual of humans and animals, Bernie thought a good deed would be a great way to honour her son’s memory.

The money they would spend on his October birthday and Christmas gifts will now be donated to the local SPCA.

“We wanted our granddaughter Lailee to be able to honour her dad yearly. Because Jeff and our family are passionate about all animals, we felt donating on a yearly basis would be a great fit for this family as we try to heal from our sudden loss,” Bernie said.

Bernie said that over the years Jeff helped her rescue and find forever homes for a wide range of animals.

Jeff was a Trenton firefighter and proudly worked for EHS as a medical transporter based out of Truro.

He followed in his mother’s footsteps as a healthcare provider and his passion for his patients was addressed on a daily basis as a medical transporter.

Bernie said, “His passion was foremost in everything he attempted, which made him my hero every day.”

Jeff was also a longstanding member of the New Glasgow Elks Lodge 226 and curled in Stellarton. He was a very passionate sports fan from NASCAR to the Oakland A’s to the Green Bay Packers and the Montreal Canadiens, where his daughter Lailee inherited her passion for the sport of hockey.

Bernie said because of the pressures COVID and Fiona have placed on our communities, asking for donations at this time did not feel right, but she would be happy to welcome any donations contributed to the annual, ‘Jeff Head feed the fur babies for Christmas fundraiser.'

“Thank you in advance from our family to yours,” she added. “Because so many have lost so much this year, myself, his daughter (Lailee), along with his sister Beckey, are very excited to start with our donations that would be our gifts to him for the fur babies in need.”

Creston Rudolph, development officer for the provincial SPCA said, “This is a wonderful idea.” There are many ways individuals can make a donation, he added.