Basket raffle in honor of Erin Fuller at Shelby Fire Hall benefits suicide prevention

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Joey Molisani and his girlfriend Julia Domiano help his mother Ike Watts arrange baskets for a raffle at Shelby Fire Hall on Saturday to benefit her team in supporting suicide prevention. Watts and her family have participated in the Out of the Darkness Walk every year since 2016 as Team Fuller 155, in honor of her cousin Erin Fuller, whose badge number with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department was 155. (Right) Ike Watts looks at all the goodies in a basket donated for their second annual raffle to benefit suicide prevention. Theme of the basket is “Proud to be Polish.”

SHELBY – When Erin Fuller, an Orleans County deputy, died by suicide at age 45 on Sept. 12, 2015, it left his family lost and heartbroken.

When Jason and Ike Watts saw an advertisement for Out of the Darkness Walk in Buffalo to benefit suicide prevention, they knew they had to get involved.

Since 2016,  the Watts and their family have walked and tried to seek donations for the cause. They weren’t as successful as they wanted, until the idea came up last year to have a basket raffle.

“Basket raffles are always a hit, so I called a couple of friends and asked their opinion,” Ike said. “We had our first raffle last year and it was extremely successful. We had a great turnout and people wanted to know if we were going to do it again this year.”

Their second annual basket raffle to benefit their team in support of suicide prevention will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Shelby Fire Hall. Drawing of tickets will begin at 5 p.m.

The afternoon will include refreshments sponsored by Medina FFA volunteers, special raffles and a 50/50 raffle.

The Watts have a motto they live up to. “We support the fighters, admire the survivors, honor the taken and never give up hope.”

The support they’ve already received this year is overwhelming.

“Donations were slow at first, but in the last few days, a lot of people have stepped up to donate, for which I’m extremely grateful,” Ike said.

The fire hall already has a record number of baskets and donations will still be accepted by calling Ike at (585) 590-0291, Tammy Fearby at (716) 239-0185, Rebecca Lacy at (585) 750-4425 or Christine Crane at (585) 590-2608. Also volunteering to help is Todd Eick, a co-worker of Ike’s in the Medina Central School system.

Ike said some of the baskets are incredible, including one from the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, a “Proud to be Polish” themed basket valued at more than $300, and one from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Association called a “Thin Blue Line” basket.

One thing which Ike can’t stop thinking about is the spread sheet on which they log in each basket as it is received. The basket from the Sheriff’s Department was the 155th one, the number of Erin’s badge.

Another very special basket is one she created called “A Walk to Remember” in memory of the late Wilson Southworth, who enjoyed daily walks admiring Medina.

“It is my hope that whoever wins this basket will walk around Medina and admire everything our small town has to offer,” Ike said.

She thanked Ron Stork and his wife Cherie, Lee and Maureen Blackburn and Case-Nic Cookies for contributing to this basket, filled with merchandise and gift certificates from 15 businesses in downtown Medina.

Ike is also excited to announce the Orleans County Suicide Prevention Coalition has joined as a co-sponsor of the fundraiser.

Another new feature this year is a banner with the name Fuller 155. For a donation of any amount a person can purchase a heart for a loved one and the Watts family will carry it in the walk on Sept. 21.

“The banner may have Erin’s name on it, but the cause is for so many people we’ve lost or are struggling,” Ike said. “Suicide prevention is not an easy subject to talk about, but by doing this raffle we hope it eases people’s mind that it’s OK to talk about it.”