Cpl. Bill Kerr, a local soldier injured in Afghanistan, his wife Tracy and his two daughters Zoe and Abigail, finally have a home that will fully meet Kerr’s special needs.
It is courtesy of a major fundraising effort by Greater Sudbury residents over the past two years.
“I will move in tomorrow,” he said, of his new house on Nickel Offset Road in Chelmsford, at a house warming Nov. 16.
“My family will be safe and comfortable. What else can you ask for? I am very thankful for what everyone has done for me and my family.”
The Canadian Forces soldier was injured in Afghanistan in October 2008 while on foot patrol during his second tour of duty in the country. He lost both legs and a part of an arm when he stepped on a remotely-detonated explosive device.
After receiving treatment in Landstuhl, Germany, he was taken home to Canada and spent time in Ottawa recovering from his wounds. He is still undergoing surgery. He has been a member of the Irish Regiment since 2003.
Kerr was emotional when speaking to dozens of friends and supporters at the site of his new home.
It was built by a lot of tradesmen. They put a lot of caring and blood sweat and tears into this house to make sure it was perfect for Bill.
Derik McArthur,
friend and president of of the Northern Joint Council RWDSU
“It has just been amazing,” Kerr said. “I am very proud to be a Sudburian. The way the community rallied around me was amazing. I am very proud to be a soldier. I am very proud for the way I and my family have been treated here and taken care of. I can’t say enough to everybody (who helped).”
He wept visibly when thanking friend Derik McArthur. The president of the Northern Joint Council RWDSU was a key organizer for Kerr’s house building effort and chaired the committee for Home for a Hero.
Home For A Hero was a fundraising effort to provide permanent accommodation for the Kerr family.
“I couldn’t have done this without you,” Kerr said.
“We raised about $280,000,” McArthur said. “That does not include the services donated. It was absolutely worth it. This is a great thing for Bill. It is a great thing for our community.”
Gerry Lougheed Jr., fundraising co-chair, said the campaign for the Kerr family was exceptional.
He said $200,000 was raised in the fall of 2009 in one day, when hundreds of people hiked the new section of Hwy. 69 S. in support of the soldier.
Cpl. Bill Kerr cuts the ribbon at his new home in Chelmsford, assisted by his wife, Tracy (left), and his daughters Abigail (centre) and Zoe. The Nov. 16 ribbon-cutting ceremony takes place two years after the start of the Home for a Hero fundraising campaign. Photo by Marg Seregelyi.
“How many opportunities in Canada do we have in history to have a four-lane highway opening up? We were able to have the Hike For The Hero where hundreds and hundreds of Sudburians gathered together to raise thousands of dollars to build this magnificent house.”
Lougheed said the day when Kerr rose from his wheelchair to make his first steps, unaided, still flashes back in his mind.
“That was a giant leap that challenged and inspired all of us to make sure this house got built.”
The three-bedroom house is all on one level.
“There is not a room Bill cannot get into,” McArthur said.
The home has been modified so Kerr can easily reach the sinks. There are ramps in any stair areas and a special non-skid flooring, allowing for wheelchair and prostheses-safe movement.
“The $300,000 house was built by Dalron Construction, at cost, starting in July,” McArthur added.
“It was built by a lot of tradesmen. They put a lot of caring and blood, sweat and tears into this house to make sure it was perfect for Bill.”
