This community has once again demonstrated it's one of the most generous in the nation.
A year ago, we lost our wonderful co-worker, Chuck Olmstead, to a brain aneurysm.
Monday, all day long, WHAS Television opened up the airwaves and the telephone lines for a fundraiser.
He was a 60-year-old man cut down in the prime of his life. Chuck was a journalist determined to help viewers.
He got answers and results for people in need.
Monday, you returned the favor.
“If you've got a problem, don't fight it alone,” was Chuck Olmstead’s signature sign off for many years.
For 35 years, he reported on consumer issues and helped viewers with all kinds of problems. Chuck was always there for people in need on and off camera.
That's just one reason so many people from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. called a special telethon for the Chuck Olmstead Memorial Fund. They donated money in Chuck's memory to buy a mobile brain unit where people can get free brain scans to check for possibly aneurysms.
“Most everybody says they just loved Chuck and too everybody has a story it seems everybody either knows a brother, sister, mother, or someone been affected. They want to donate in their memory or honor,” said Tammy Ward.
“They just said he was a wonderful man, I will donated whatever I can to help. But the biggest thing is they want to make sure that this continues on that they wanted this to continue. $5 to $100, they were doing whatever they could,” said Anne of Norton Healthcare.
Candy Olmstead, Chuck's widow, was there all day taking calls and talking to people about their experience with brain aneurysms and graciously accepting donations in Chuck's memory but for the community.
She said, “This is your drive, your project. I'm being led by the lord but this is yours. Your unit, we want you to be able to use it. We want to save lives.”
It was a happy fatigue knowing that people responded and the community joined in, in memory of a man they watched and trusted for so many years.
Candy Olmstead said, “You know Chuck was a humble man and he loved Louisville. He would be very, very, very proud.”
Monday, this community came together to raise $30,000 for the Chuck Olmstead Memorial Fund.
That includes $23,000 from Metro Council funds and $1000 from WHAS11. It's a great beginning but the mobile unit will cost in excess of $3 million so more donations are needed.
You can always donate at the Chuck Olmstead Memorial Fund website.
This Saturday, March 13th, there is a Remember Chuck Olmstead Walk at St. Leonard Church at 440 Zorn Avenue in Louisville from 8:00 a.m. to noon.
And there's a Screening Expo March 27 and 28th at Oxmoor Center behind Sears in the parking lot there.
This is all being done in partnership with Norton Neuroscience Institute to raise community awareness about brain illnesses.
They have really embraced this effort and are supporting it with time, money and medical expertise.
Visit the Chuck Olmstead Memorial Fund Website to give to this important cause.
