McGregor Music Festival raises $72,000

Proceeds donated to the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation

By Ron Giofu

The McGregor Music Festival committee wrapped up its 2023 event with a $72,000 cheque presentation to the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation.

While the festival itself was held at Co-An Park in McGregor June 11, the proceeds have now been counted and the donation made to the foundation. The cheque was presented Monday evening at the home of festival committee chair Sue LeClair, followed by a barbecue with committee members and Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation (WCCF) officials.

“We’re surprised,” said LeClair of the total. “We had 400 people show up. We are surprised and happy with $72,000.”

The surprise factor came due to rain that hit the area that Sunday, but WCCF executive director Houida Kassem wasn’t among those shocked. Kassem said LeClair and the committee work hard every year and showed again that they care about the community.

“They came together and did an awesome job,” said Kassem.

The proceeds will be split among two causes – the patient assistance fund and dignity robes. The former helps cover costs incurred by patients during treatment they might have difficulty paying due to their health, such as utility bills or transportation expenses. There arecriteria patients have to meet to qualify for the fund, said Kassem, but she said the foundation usually needs about $70,000 for that fund during the year.

“(The patient’s) focus should be on their care and well-being,” she said.

The dignity robes are sewed by women and men with the WCCF helping to cover the costs of the material. The robes help cover a patient going through radiation so they don’t have to be fully exposed. That program usually runs about $10,000, said Kassem.

The McGregor Music Festival’s pig auction was popular again this year,

LeClair reported, calling it “the centre of the festival.” A rib dinner was added and that helped draw people in and keep them at Co-An Park, she added.

Co-An Park has a covered seating area that can be enclosed in inclement weather, LeClair said, and that helped as well this year.

“It was cold, it was chilly,” she said, though Kassem added the generosity of Windsor-Essex County residents was heartwarming.

LeClair said planning is already underway for next year, stating they have an $80,000 goal.

“If the weather would have been there, we would have done it this year,” she said.

Sponsors are already being spoken to and many have already committed to returning, said LeClair. The committee will start up again in April and work right through the festival next year, which will be June 9, 2024.

“We’re just a well oiled machine,” said LeClair. “We have 12 committee members. They know their jobs. They work hard.”

The committee doesn’t make a lot of changes, though any ideas are vetted through committee members.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” said LeClair.

They like donating to the WCCF as the money stays local, LeClair added.

“Everybody has been affected by cancer,” she stated. “That day (of the festival), it’s amazing how many people tell you they are a survivor, or they’re fighting it.”

Kassem added people can get away from their troubles that day, have a good time, and give back to others. She said they are thankful to the community of Windsor-Essex County for stepping up and LeClair also offered thanks.

“Thank you to the sponsors, bands, volunteers and everyone who comes out,” said LeClair. “It’s greatly appreciated.”