Fred Fest raises thousands for new wheelchairs and cancer battle

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Two successful fundraisers were held at the fifth annual Fred Fest north of Fort St. John.

The event — a community music festival featuring a variety of local artists — was held on August 22nd and 23rd, 2025. 

Each year, the event raises money through attractions like live auctions and by collecting donations from attendees, with the money being given to local groups like the Fort St. John Seniors Hall in 2024.

This year, the festival raised $22,555 for the Fort St. John Hospital Auxiliary, the fundraising arm of the local hospital that coordinates community efforts to bring new medical equipment to the facility.

According to organizer Fred McRae, that money will go towards buying three new wheelchairs.

“There’s a couple of people — Kory Pearson and Shane Ford — who have got to be mentioned,” McRae said in a video posted to social media. “They carried our auction. Thank you, fellas.”

Pearson and Ford purchased items at the live auction held during the festival. McRae also thanked auctioneer Brian Baldry for helping facilitate the event, and everyone else who contributed to the fundraiser.

“Simply just buying a ticket, you helped and made this all possible. It feels good to be able to do this.”

According to another social media post, a secondary fundraiser was also run during the event collecting cash donations for local photographers Steve and Sarah Milner.

The Milners, who worked as photographers for the 2023 iteration of Fred Fest, are “going through a difficult battle against lung cancer,” according to the post.

Cash donations for the Milners were collected from attendees, and cornhole boards donated for sale by McRae and his relative Tammy raised several thousand additional dollars. 

A final $1,000 donation by local transport company Ditmarsia Holdings meant organizers managed to raise $5,190 in total for the Milners.

“It was pretty special to see some of the donations that were made to support the Milners,” the post reads, “and we say a heartfelt thanks to all who dug deep to contribute.”