Volleyball community rallies for local fire victims

The local volleyball community is pulling together to help the Waugh family after a fire destroyed its home in Lincoln Heights last week.

Flames tore through Mike and Jennie Waugh's residence early Friday morning, leaving the couple and their two young sons homeless for the holiday season.

An investigation into the cause of the blaze is ongoing, but fire officials believe the fire started on a couch that was located in a basement apartment in the home.

Since Mike and Jennie have both played volleyball for years, teammates and friends from across the region have launched a fundraising effort to help the family through this difficult time.

Steve Lanteigne, one of the co-ordinators of the fundraiser and the president of the Reds Volleyball Club, said he knew immediately that something should be done to give the family a little boost before the holidays.

"Volleyball is a tight community," he said.

"There's a social aspect to the sport. Everybody knows everyone who plays and they bring their kids along. It's really nice. And that's why they like to help each other out when they can."

He said the Reds Volleyball Club, a separate entity from the University of New Brunswick's volleyball program that helps to promote the sport in the Fredericton area, has more than 400 members.

Mike is a long-time member with the Reds Fero Senior A team.

"Jennie and Mike are both former UNB Varsity Reds' players. Jennie plays on a senior women's team called the Fredericton Blues and their son Conner, who is four or five, participates in our (kindergarten to Grade 2) program as well. So there's lots of volleyball blood in that family," he said.

To help their friends get back on their feet, the group set up a website to collect financial contributions.

"We just thought it was something that we could offer - to collect credit-card payments through our e-commerce site," he said.

"As a result, I think we have about $2,900 raised so far since Friday night at 9 p.m."

People can visit this website to contribute or learn more about the effort HERE.

Lanteigne said the club is planning to present the money it has raised to the family on Christmas Eve.

"Right now, we're planning to take donations up to the 24th and then we're going to present a cheque to Mike and Jennie," he said.

"If we do find that there's a demand to keep it going, we will. But we wanted to get some money into their hands as quickly as possible."