By Chris Hagan
Review Staff Writer
Two months ago, Orion resident and first grade teacher, Cheryl Reynolds passed away unexpectedly in her home at 36-years-old.
Immediately after, her friends and family began a feverish fundraising campaign to help her husband, Brian and two children, Cailyn, 7, and Braden, 5.
Hundreds took to social media raising tens of thousands of dollars while others took care of smaller, odds and ends, tasks like meals.
One group in particular that rallied around Brian was his family of which he doesn’t share a blood line. His fellow firefighters banded together to lift any sort of extra burden from his shoulders and now, two months later, they’re still working to help.
Veteran Orion firefighter Art Schrah went to Orion Sports Bar for euchre night when the waitstaff approached him and expressed their condolences over Cheryl’s passing.
They followed up with suggesting that Art approach Orion Sports Bar owner, Matt More, who said he would help with a fundraiser for the Reynolds family.
‘I wanted to step up and help the family out with the financial loss that they went through,? Schrah said. ‘We needed to get the ball rolling and I went up to Matt and he said he’d be more than happy to do the fundraiser.?
After Schrah and More worked out the details everything began to fall into place. OSB agreed to donate 20 percent of sales beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 22.
Attendees will have to present a fundraising flyer in order for the donation to be made, but Schrah says he’ll be in attendance and will have plenty of copies for anyone coming into the establishment.
‘OSB has been in the community for almost 20 years and anything for any resident going through a hard time that we can help with, we’re going to,? More said. ‘We have donation pots and some raffles and basically anything possible to help this family out.?
In addition to the donation of sales, there will also a host of door prices which range from gift certificates from area restaurants all the up to a four-some of golf at the Indianwood Golf and Country Club. All money raised will be given to the Reynolds family to help them.
‘You see a lot of stuff in this career, and the same can be said for police officers. They’re like family and you watch out take care of each other,? Schrah said. ‘It’s what we’ve always done and what I learned from the people I started and grown with; it’s a brotherhood.?
Orion Sports Bar is located at 1172 S. Lapeer Rd across from Burger King.