Crazy Larry Melnik Fund

Dear Friends,

Hi, I am Sarah Lertzman and I am starting a fundraiser for Larry Watson. Crazy Larry, for those who do not know him, is a guiding light in the Canmore Banff community. He is always out on his bike in town, in all weather, making balloons for kids and families he meets, while charming all and making everyone’s day a little brighter. Larry never asks for a dollar for this important work, and like many who give away their services, he finds himself challenged by the ever gentrifying, rent raising, soul evicting real estate market in Canmore.

Larry has been renting a small cabin in the Bow Valley for many years, where he is just able to fit all his supplies and a bed and stove for cooking. He paid for this with pay from his maintenance work around town and his highway rescue work. A new landlord served him with eviction papers yesterday after Larry couldn’t pay the 30% rent increase announced last month. Now he is looking at losing his cabin and all his belongings if he loses a hearing on the 14th. That is just one week away and during the holidays.

Larry needs legal representation. If we can raise these funds together, he may stand a chance at keeping his situation, and we may stand a chance at keeping Larry’s light in Canmore.

If you or anyone you know has legal skills or services they would be willing to use to help Larry, please let Larry know. Larry can be reached on Facebook and messenger as Larry Watson. His email is:

[email redacted]

You can give legal support funds to him directly or through this fundraiser, whichever you prefer. I will be giving Larry one hundred dollars because he inspired me to keep going after David died. Every morning and every night he would send me inspiring messages that I could make it. I owe him much.

If Larry has ever brightened your day with his smile or his stories, if he has ever brought joy to your child, please consider giving him a small amount so he can keep a roof over his head and keep making ballons and giving joy to so many of us. If we all give a little bit, Larry will be able to give so much more to our world.

And if you can't make a donation, it would be great if you could share the fundraiser to help spread the word.

Crazy Larry Watson needs our help.

Please give back to the man who has given the Bow Valley so much.

He has kept his personal promise to help kids and youth and anyone have a better day by daily tieing balloons. When leaving his home everyday, he has revealed in conversation, he leaves with approximately 200-300 balloons to arm himself with some cheer for adults kids and youth daily all over the Bow Valley. In stores. At events. In grocery store aisles. Along outside patio restaurants. Surprise visits to many establishments all in an effort to promote a Pay it Forward noble deed way.

A new landlord is trying to evict him by saying he hasn’t paid an illegal raise in rent. He needs legal representation and immediate support for a December 14th hearing he found out about yesterday.

Let’s help Larry stay in his cabin. Larry (aka CrazyLarry) world is caving in.

Larry helped me so much after my dear husband Professor David Letzman passed. Larry has always held him in the status of a true brother as he has done with ALL the Bow Valley Community and all the Fire Depart - Ambulance - Police - Parks and Mountain Biking community ***globally - as part of the family he never had.

He has revealed he has had no family for quite some time.

He gave me hope and belief in myself when that was hard to come by. That is why I’m organizing this fundraiser for him, and donating $100 for his legal support.

IF you have felt you've been touched by the noble deeds Pay it Forward way of Larry (aka CrazyLarry) by a balloon, picked you up in a cheerier mood conversation somewhere in your day, high five, volunteered at your event, or listened to his CrazyLarry Live on Location -(Current weather as it happens broadcast on 106.5 mountain FM local radio station) - then if I may humbly ask 'do unto others as you might have them do for you.'

Lets help the man who gives relentlessly - Crazy Larry as you know him by and as he likes to be addressed.

He has been such a credit to our Valley and the world of mountain bike globally.

Thanks for reading this and helping!

https://gofund.me/69b5fc56

In gratitude,

Sarah Lertzman

I recognize that I am on the traditional territory of the Semiahmoo peoples. I am new to this land and I am committed to learning more about the nations and their protocols, that I may accurately recognize this land and its people.

I recently come from the traditional territory of the Treaty 7 peoples, including the Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai Nations of the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Tsuut’ina Nation, and the Iyarhe (Stoney) Nakoda including Chinook, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations, as well as the Métis Nation of Alberta Region III. I affirm our responsibilities as Treaty people and my role in reconciliation, as I am privileged to live in the traditional territory of of the Iyarhe Nakoda.Gofundme helped Larry years ago…