Dear Downhome; There is a local boy that you should be so proud of. He is all a mother, a wife and a family could ever hope for. Lots of folks from Newfoundland and Labrador land in Alberta for work, leaving home and family behind to manage short-handed. Our little community of Manning recently got to know one of your guardian angels. His name is Derek Pickford and he came to work on a pipeline project on the Chinchaga Road for Surerus Pipeline. Most people would come out and just do their job as a pilot truck driver, but not Derek. More than 500 people had left their homes and come out to work on this project. The camp is set up in the wilderness almost a two-hour drive from the closest small community of Manning. These men are living on site and don't get to go home at night. Derek organized some creative 50/50 draws with some oilfield prizes to make the draws interesting and to give back to the community. Since January this year, the "50/50 Guy" helped to raise over $30,000 for local charities. The groups that benefited from Derek's hard work was everyone from the local senior citizens to a cancer survivor, the little preschooler gym group, Girl Guides, minor hockey, figure skaters, soccer club, playground fundraiser, Junior forest wardens, volleyball team, toy lending libraries, the bike and skateboard park, the school's band trip, junior curling club and the Zumba group. The local community here will never forget what Derek has done for us. The bake sales, auctions and other fundraisers that this has prevented, wow! None of the people in Manning had any idea of what Derek "the 50/50 Guy" was up to. Thanks for the loan, Newfoundland and Labrador – he's made his mark in Manning!   Submitted By: NULL