How one promise raises thousands of dollars

AU SABLE FORKS | All great love stories have to start somewhere, and this one starts with a cat. Vickie Trombley's life was changed one day when a hungry black cat, soon to be named Buddie, appeared on her porch. Trombley assumed Buddie to be another dropoff, a situation that she wasn't unfamiliar with, and after getting Buddie some food, he decided to settle down in Trombley's lawn chair for a nap- a habit which would become part of his ordinary routine. Soon Buddie became part of Trombley's family. "But Buddie turned out to be the most unique thing in my life. He taught me a lot. I always thought I was compassionate and that I cared about things, but he's the one that taught me. And what turned out to be just a simple black cat, was not a simple black cat," said Trombley. Then everything changed. Buddie wasn't found napping in his usual chair, or on the porch. The next time Buddie was seen, he was dragging himself towards Trombley. Buddie was rushed to the vet, where they discovered that Buddie, who was only 2 years old, had been shot. The bullet had entered high into his right leg and shattered the bone. His left leg also had a bullet wound, which was less severe. The vet recommended amputation of the right leg. "I don't know, call it a gut feeling, I just knew I had to give him a chance," Trombley recalled. The odds weren't in Buddie's favor, but still, the vet tried to save the leg while Trombley prayed for a miracle. As Trombley prayed she made a promise. She promised that if Buddie could be healed and have use of all four legs that she would help animals. Against all odds, Buddie made a full recovery, and true to her word Trombley had a promise to keep. A promise that's she's been fulfilling for the past 15 years. In 2007, Trombley started the Easter Basket Raffle to raise money for animals. In the beginning, she would split the proceeds between different shelters, but now proceeds from the Easter Basket Raffle go only towards Elmore SPCA. "You know why it turned out to be Easter baskets, I have to tell you, I don't know, I think in the back of my mind that- it's the time of miracles…," said Trombley. Trombley firmly believes that she was given a miracle through Buddie's recovery, and to her, Easter is the perfect representation of miracles and the perfect way to show her appreciation and gratitude for the years she was able to spend with Buddie. Buddie sadly passed away in January of 2018 when he was 16. "He just was a cat that was very unusual. He just, he touched my heart, my soul. He was so loved and [is] so missed," said Trombley with tears in her voice. The raffle that was started to fulfill a promise switched to one that honors a lost friend. Last year the fundraiser raised $5,687 for the shelter. The proceeds raised from this fundraiser go towards providing medical care, vaccinations, spaying, neutering, and food. On average, Elmore SPCA sees 500 animals pass through their doors each year. The raffle which used to be done at various businesses throughout the area has switched to being done remotely due to COVID. This year it is anticipated that there will be 15 exceptional drawings in honor of 15 years of this fundraiser. There are a wide variety of raffle items ranging from an extra-large dog bed to movie tickets, and while Trombley doesn't have a set goal in mind, she is always happy when they raise $5,000. The most the fundraiser has ever raised has been $7,720. At the end of the day, it takes a lot of passion and dedication to do what Trombley does each year, and it's all because of one very special black cat. Tickets are currently available for purchase. Each $5 donation comes with eight chances to win and can be purchased by mailing a check payable to Elmore SPCA to Vickie Trombley at 12 Rolling Mill Hill Rd., Au Sable Forks, N.Y. 12912. It is asked that you include a phone number with your donation, so Trombley can get in touch in case you win. The drawing will take place April 14.

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How one promise raises thousands of dollars

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