Ashley Bochek
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The World-Spectator
Ten-year-old Hadley Polk of Melville has raised $10,000 by selling handmade bracelets to support two injured officers in Melville.
Two RCMP officers were seriously injured during a shooting in Melville June 21.
The community held a fundraising barbecue and silent auction at the CN Community Centre in the middle of July.
Polk is 10 years old and began making bracelets and fundraising for the two police officers as soon as she heard of the incident. “I live in Melville, and I’m going into grade five this fall. I knew I wanted to help raise money for the officers as soon as it happened so I started making bracelets to sell.”
Polk says one of the injured officers is a family friend.
“One of the officers is a family friend, and he’s been my best friend since I was three. So I knew I wanted to help as best as I could. I’ve raised $10,000 so far.”
Shocked to raise $10,000
Polk says she was surprised to raise thousands of dollars after initially setting a goal in the hundreds.
“I expected to raise somewhere in the hundreds, maybe $200. Never did I expect I would raise $10,000! That’s a lot of money!”
Polk sold bracelets at the community-wide fundraiser in July at the CN Community Centre.
“I was at the big initial fundraiser that they held for the officers at the rink and there was a lot of money raised there,” said Polk. “Some of my bracelets are available to buy at Shear Concepts Hair Salon in Melville. I’ve had lots of people stop by my house to buy bracelets. I have a table of them set up on my front lawn.”
She says she has made hundreds of bracelets and has become skilled in making them in a short period of time.
“I’ve mastered making bracelets so well that it takes me about five minutes or less to make one now. I make them out of yarn and glass beads.”
Giving back
Polk says she wants to give back to the two officers who help protect the community every day.
“They’ve always worked so hard to keep our communities safe, and I think we should now help them. It’s important we help them with their recovery and be there for them when they need it.
“I visited them when they were in Regina in the hospital. We drove to see them, and now they’re home resting. It made them feel pretty good knowing I was helping, and the whole community. I actually went and had pizza with them the other night as well and they were both wearing my bracelets.”
She adds, “The money is going toward traveling to see their specialists and for check-ups in the city while they are recovering.”
Polk says she is happy to be fundraising for the two officers that provide safety and protection to the whole community.
“I think that it’s important that we help what some of us call, our heroes. The RCMP help keep our community safe, and I think that it’s important that we give them a hand, like they give us a hand. I’m very happy to help with making bracelets and that it’s going toward a good cause.”
If you are interested in purchasing one of Hadley’s bracelets to help support the two RCMP officers recovering from the shooting, contact Lacey Polk @ 306-728-7654.
