L’Observateur / August 22, 2000

DEAR EDITOR: As chairman of Pattifest, I felt it important to publish this response to the people who created, worked and supported this charitable event.

We all know that the festival was to support Patti in her terrible ordeal that has occurred with her health. But, it was also a festival for ourcommunity and the people along the river.

In the painful beginning of her sickness, family and friends flocked to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in hope that they can do something, anything, to help in that trying time of need, but it was out of their hands. It was inthe hands of God and the doctors.

People kept hearing of Patti’s ups and downs throughout these past few months, but there still was very little that they could do. Pattifest andlast month’s benefit golf tournament gave the people an opportunity to finally have that chance to do something. The golf tournament got the ballrolling, as local and distant golfers, and hope-to-be golfers, participated in an unheard-of charitable tournament in our area that was professionally put together.

Pattifest, expanded to let the whole family have their turn to finally do something. They worked, participated, and celebrated a young lady’scourage, desire and human spirit to return her life back to as normal as she possibly can. It was a people’s celebration of Patti’s inspiration thatis just beginning for us all.

As the publicity began to appear of her sickness and her recovery, it was apparent that the festival would become larger than first thought. Thenewspaper articles, then television coverage, really expanded this story past the local market. It was the Channel 4 news story on Thursday, Aug.10, where I first saw Patti since her ordeal had begun. I saw a brightnessand a glow in her face that I had never experienced before. On Sunday,when Patti appeared at the festival, that glow was even brighter. I firmlybelieve that the people gave Patti the best medicine she has received to date – the medicine of friendship and hope.

I can’t say enoughabout the chairpersons, committees and workers that formed the team that made Pattifest possible. I can’t say thank you enoughtimes to the people who donated their time and money to make it the success that it was. It makes me proud to live in a community such as Ido, and to be associated with the people that live along the river. It wasan event that should make all hometowns envious of the way we rally around a cause. I feel I can speak for Patti and her family when I say thatjust how you kept her in your prayers, they will keep you in theirs.

P.S. – Pattifest, while still receiving donations, and before paying bills,has generated more than $123,000.

Tommy Bourgeois Pattifest chairman

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