Calgary benefit concert raises money for Haiti
Last Updated: Thursday, January 21, 2010 | 11:40 AM MT
CBC News
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A benefit concert for the Samaritan's Purse Wednesday night raised thousands of dollars for Haiti relief.
The concert, attended by more than 3,000 people, was held at the Centre Street Church and featured Christian country music.
Bettina Pierre-Gilles, a Calgary businesswoman who lost six family members in the earthquake, addressed the crowd.
"Give money. As much as you can. If you've given, give again please," she later told CBC News.
"As my dad said, people are eating gum if they find it on the street so they can create saliva and survive."
Samaritan's Purse spokesman Martin Silbernagel said Calgarians have already donated more to Haiti relief than any other disaster fund he recalls, but the relief agency is having trouble delivering fresh water, food and supplies to the ones who need it.
"The road system wasn't the best to start with and since the earthquake it is now covered with debris."
Silbernagel said the benefit concert raised more than $115,000.
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