Scott Stanfield
Record staff
A group of women who call themselves the Twisted Sisters are lending a helping hand to some friends in Rock Creek who lost their homes in an Aug. 13 wildfire that ravaged about 4,500 hectares in B.C.’s southern Interior.
“It’s morphed into something that’s been tremendously shocking,” said Shelly Arrowsmith, a Courtenay resident and member of the Twisted Sisters Rock Creek Rescue Run. She and three friends formed the non-profit group to transport supplies to victims of the Rock Creek fire.
“It started with four of our friends losing their houses.”
Arrowsmith’s husband got things rolling by asking his boss at the Cumberland Regional Hospital Laundry Society if it could donate some linens. His inquiry yielded an initial 15 boxes of items.
“There’s 30 families that have lost their houses,” Arrowsmith notes.
She and her ‘sisters’ are leaving for Rock Creek Tuesday with boxes of items packed into an old motorhome. Donations from businesses have ensured a safe journey.
“It brings me to tears to talk about the generosity from all these businesses,” Arrowsmith said. “They just want to make sure that this ugly motorhome of ours is safe.”
Nelson Roofing donated to fuel expenses, Hartman Auto Supply donated windshield wipers and Fountain Tire donated a pair of front tires.
A garage sale donated items that didn’t sell. One patron who heard about the cause donated a new microwave, toaster and other kitchen supplies.
“It’s put a whole new light on how we do band together as a community, helping people we don’t even know,” Arrowsmith said. “It amazes me.”
Arrowsmith is still accepting donations. To contribute to the Twisted Sisters Rock Creek Rescue Run, call Arrowsmith at 250-897-1751.
“Whatever can’t fit into this ugly ‘Grizwall’ motorhome thing,we are going to take a second truck out,” she said. “She (Grizwall) can only take so much, but she can take a whole lot more than an half-ton or three-quarter ton.”
Arrowsmith said the trek to Midway, B.C. will be a long one for the 40-year-old RV, endearingly named in honour of the family from the Chevy Chase classic, Christmas Vacation.
“Normally it’s just to and from Comox Lake, out to the Fish and Game (Club) and that’s it,” she said. “We are going to have as much fun with it as we can. We even have decals on the back, so that people will be a little more forgiving if they get the gist of what we are up to and they get stuck behind us doing 30 kilometres an hour around a corner, up a hill. Hopefully they will be a little patient with us.”