Assault victim recipient of Christmas generosity

PENTICTON – Assault victim Ken Paton was overwhelmed at the charity shown him after a short fundraising effort was held for him on a friend’s Facebook page.

Leigh Follestad recently noted Paton’s plight after being hospitalized following a bizarre confrontation that took place early in the morning of Dec. 1 after Paton answered a knock on his front door.

“It was a 24-hour event,” said Leigh Follestad, who hosted the fundraising effort on a Penticton Facebook page. “It’s not an actual use for the site, but I was asked to help out.”

Follestad said the 24-hour posting elicited a generous response on behalf of city residents who wanted to help out.

“It was a great way to bring about community involvement,” Follestad said.

“I couldn’t believe the support shown for me,” said Paton, who received a food hamper and a pile of gifts for his daughter. “We are all set for Christmas. My daughter is going to have a good day.”

Paton is working to “pay it forward” as he takes donations of old computers and refurbishes them in order to pass them on to those in need.

“I’m working on one right now, and I’ve got two others ready to go,” he said.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

Steve Arstad's Stories