Knights and Lions to aid Pickup
Hole to kick-off trust fund
By Kris Hodgson
After the generous outpouring of the community more than 15 years ago, Gerry Patsula has spearheaded a second campaign to raise money to give independence to a Beaumont man who has lived with multiple sclerosis for the last 22 years.
Patsula, with the organizing help of Our Lady of the Hill Knights of Columbus and the Beaumont and District Lions Club, both of which he is a long-time member, will be bringing Jim Hole, of Hole’s Greenhouses and Gardens Ltd. to Beaumont.
The fundraiser at the KC  hall, 10:30 a.m. to noon on May 14 will  kickoff a trust fund for long-time resident Mark Pickup, 52, who now gets around in a wheelchair but still wants to remain mobile.
The goal is to raise enough money to either customize a 1999 Ford Windstar van to accommodate Pickup’s wheelchair for $27,000 or purchase a new wheelchair accessible van for $53,525.
“It’s one of the aims of the Lions and the K of C to help those in need in the community in order to help them pursue their goals in life,” said Patsula.
The fundraiser echoes a trust fund that was set up for 24-year-old Beaumont resident Ricky Patsula, Gerry Patsula’s son, who was involved in a freak hockey accident that resulted in him becoming a quadriplegic and being confined to a wheelchair.
At that time more than $31,000 was raised with the money going towards a customized van. Earlier this year Pickup phoned Patsula in an attempt to see how he could get some assistance.
“I felt the community rallied behind my son Ricky when he became a quadriplegic ... The Lions and Knights across Alberta helped him out so I thought here’s a chance to help someone else,” said Patsula.
MS is costly to accommodate and Pickup and his wife LaRee say it has became too expensive to afford on their own. “It’s not cheap to be disabled. Everyone has a financial brick wall and we hit it.”
Pickup was encouraged when Patsula got the thumbs-up from the K of C and the Lions.
“After hearing how the Lions and K of C got behind Rick Patsula, I asked can you do it one more time? They were wonderful, they said let’s do it one more time,” said Pickup adding, “It’s humbling to ask for help, but they saw a need and said let’s go for it.”
Whether it is restoring his current van or purchasing a brand new unit — Pickup does not have a preference, he is just happy to have the support.
When he had his scooter, Pickup was able to walk short distances, now it’s not so easy.
“Now it’s virtually impossible. I slide along the van,” he said.
Because Pickup is bound to his wheelchair it requires the floor of his van to be lowered 10 inches so he can fit inside. “I have put it off as long as I can.”
If a new van is purchased Pickup said he will sell his current vehicle to offset the cost.
“I think it’s very important in order to give him mobility, in order to give him independence, and the ability to help him pursue his ambitions and dreams of going across Alberta promoting dignity of life for disabled people,” said Patsula.
Pickup has invested his spare time back in the community. He has travelled across North America and continues to speak on various bioethical issues such as euthanasia, the sanctity of human life, and promotion of disability equality.
Pickup’s passion for public speaking began by accident when he heard Sue Rodriguez was seeking the right to assisted suicide on May 20, 1993.
Pickup thought her issue was something that most people in her condition did not agree with. “She doesn’t speak for me. I don’t agree with this. She speaks for herself,” he said.
He began to write a one-page letter to Alan Rock, justice minister at the time. The letter turned into an 18-page presentation that was presented to the Canadian Senate.
Pickup was then invited to speak across Canada and his talks caught the attention of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops who welcomed his lectures south of the border.
“I represent an individual Canadian citizen who is concerned for the way my country is going.” He said all citizens either stand equal and deserve equal protection or there is no equality at all and it was this comment that struck a chord.
Since that time Pickup has spoken to thousands of people in hundreds of venues and has debated the issue in several universities.
He is a columnist for the bi-weekly Western Catholic Reporter and is also founder of the non-profit disability organization, Human Life Matters.
Pat Vincent, president of the Beaumont and District Lions Club, said the way Beaumont supports its neighbours is a distinguishing characteristic he is proud of.
“Mark has given so much to the community for his hours of dedication. This is one small way we can pay this debt of gratitude back,” Vincent said.
Pickup developed MS at the age of 30 and he has been medically retired since 1991.
MS is a disease of the central nervous system that is slowly progressive and affects the myelin sheath that surrounds nerve fibres. It causes lesions in random areas of the central nervous system that inflame and cause a variety of problems including loss of speech, the use of limbs and others.
With Pickup, MS began slowly and he had to start using a cane, then crutches, then a scooter, and now he is bound to his wheelchair.
What it’s like living with MS is no easy thing to explain.
“It’s hard. It’s uncertain and frightening. I’m not stupid, I can see where things are going.”
Through the 22 years he has lived with MS, Pickup said the most admirable feature is that his wife chose to stay with him.
“MS is a horrible disease. You don’t know what you can wake up with. One morning I couldn’t type and I couldn’t speak.”
One day Pickup was walking toward a mirrored building and he felt sorry for a crippled man he saw in the reflection. When he got close enough he saw it was himself and he was overcome with emotion.
“It’s the sense of loss that one has to come to grips with,” he said adding, “The losing doesn’t stop, you are always losing something new.”
If someone would have asked  Pickup at age 25 if he could have quality of life with a future that involves a scooter and an electric wheelchair, he would have said no way.
But now he knows that quality of life is a moving target.
“Today to love and be loved, I win. If the final arbitrator for what gives quality of life is love then I win, it has nothing to do with the disease.”
Jim Hole is part owner of one of the largest independent retail greenhouse and garden centres in Canada.
“He will be speaking of what’s new and what’s hot. People are encouraged to bring their gardening problems,” said Patsula.
There is a $10 admission charge, and more than 30 gardening books will be auctioned off during his talk, which will include a question and answer period at the end.
Hole’s love of gardening began with Jim’s mother, former Lt.-Gov. Lois Hole.