By Aaron Stuckel

Facebook auction benefits families of plane crash victims

Feb 16, 2012 | 5:39 AM

When Cam and Wade Cooper died in a plane crash during a fly-in fishing trip last June, they both left behind wives and children whose lives were flipped upside down with the loss of their loved one.

But a magazine out of Edmonton started a trust fund for the children and is raising money via an online auction.

“Wade and Cam were the brothers of Ash Cooper, who has been with our magazine for … 15 years now,” said Meaghan Tanner from the magazine.

The Cooper brothers were well-known in cowboy circles on the Prairies. Cam was a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, and Wade managed Heartland Livestock in Prince Albert.

“There was an auction done about a year ago for Nathan Roy, who was a bull rider who was injured and that raised over $100,000,” said Tanner. “So the idea kind of came out of that.”

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The online auction is run through a Facebook group page that, in less than a week, is already nearing 4,000 members. Bids are placed through comments on pictures posted by those who have donated prizes.

“We have donations as big as hunting trips out in B.C. and we have smaller ones like people donating cinnamon buns … so there’s been a wide variety,” Tanner said. “We had a donation from Mexico come in and lots in the U.S., lots in Saskatchewan and Alberta.”

Some other items include purebred blue heeler pups, a custom made queen size log bed, and a pair of sunglasses encrusted with Swarovski crystals. Anyone can join the group and make a bid.

“You have to request to join the group and I will approve you right away. Then you just make a comment,” Tanner said describing how to bid on items.

Bidding closes on Friday and contestants will be notified of their winnings directly from Tanner.

For more information on the auction or to make cash donations, contact Meghann Tanner at 1-780-628-5215 or meghann@cowboycountrymagazine.com

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