A fundraiser at the Estevan Church of God on July 28 raised more than $5,000 for Bienfait residents Dusten and Trina McKercher, who have been in Regina since a motorcycle accident on July 21.

"We did this on very short notice," said event organizer Christa Morhart, who is a close friend of the couple. "We just planned the fundraiser last week, so it took less than a week to get the word out there."
Morhart said they were hoping to raise about $2,500, which would have been half of what they brought in.

There were nearly 40 door prizes at the event. Raffle tickets for the door prizes were sold, and prizes were handed out every few minutes. There was also an inflatable playground and a barbecue.

Drivers from the Estevan Motor Speedway and the Estevan Drag Racing Association brought their vehicles to the fundraiser, while the Bikers Against Diabetes brought their motorcycles.

Morhart said Trina McKarcher has been hospitalized due to the injuries she sustained in the accident, and it's not known how long she'll remain in hospital. They also don't know how much transportation via STARS Air Ambulance to Regina will cost, or the expenses the family will have for accommodations, meals and other essential while in Regina.

"Neither of them have family in Regina," said Morhart. "So the husband and both sets of parents have been staying in Regina, and that's a cost straight out of pocket. We just wanted to make sure that the last thing her family had to worry about was money. We want the only thing for them to be concerned about is being next to Trina and supporting her as much as they can."

A trust fund has been set up at Spectra Credit Union, under the name Dusten and Trina McKercher. Donations to the family can be made at several branches, Morhart said.