Along with the wine and cheese, there were specially decorated cookies. Camel and flamingo were two of the designs on the cookies, along with other motifs like pink flamingos dotting a green yard. One of the cookies says, “18 hours, 72.10 km., 95,997 steps.”
The camels are self-explanatory, while the flamingos are a tribute to one of her most reliable fundraisers – flocking.
Edwards's big beach party gave the summer a splash, Cornerstone executive director Nancy Johnston said, but everyone enjoyed the flocking. For a certain donation, you can “flock” someone – surprise that person with a flock of pink flamingos. Along with supporters' friends and family members, flockees included the Cobourg Police Service and Rebound Northumberland.
Edwards feels strongly about supporting her local community. She already makes a practice of donating several thousand dollars a year to Cornerstone by setting aside part of every commission she makes.
“I guess, in the line of work I'm in, I generally work with people who don't have a problem affording a home. This is sort of the flip side, being able to help people I may never meet otherwise and giving back to these people,” she said.
Edwards did meet a Cornerstone client before she left, and was surprised at what she heard.
“She said I am an inspiration, which is crazy – she has gone through so much. The fact is that she can see the inspiration in me going and walking five days, and I see the inspiration in her. I want to provide what I can for women like her.”
Johnston applauded Edwards for all the effort and for her creative fundraising.
“That $30,000 will have a huge impact on our services, but Lindsey did so well helping us raise the profile of Cornerstone with her e-mails, social media and flocking,” she said.
“And we also talked about the courage it took for Lindsey to do this. For me, it speaks to the courage it takes for women and children to leave an abusive relationship.
“I think it symbolizes the community taking a stand against family violence, because it was a community effort. Lindsey led it, but there's also the amazing generosity of our community and what it symbolizes for these women and children.
The Royal LePage Shelter Foundation arranges these fundraisers every two years, Edwards said, and she fully expects to apply for the next one when it's announced at this year's sales conference in Winnipeg.
Based on her track record of accomplishing what she sets out to do, Johnston would not be surprised if they held a similar celebration in a couple of years' time.
