The Idaho Statemen Newspaper!

Mother pays tribute to her son by helping others

Submitted by Anna Webb on Sat, 05/16/2009 - 1:55pm.

After Chyrisa Quincy’s 22-year-old son, Mark, died in a car accident in 2006, she decided to pay tribute to his memory by organizing fundraisers for local charities on his birthday.

The third annual Mark C. Ellis Memorial Fundraiser is 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday, May 22-23, at the Albertsons in Eagle, 250 S. Eagle Rd. You can buy raffle tickets and be in the running to win all kinds of prizes donated by local businesses, and organizations.

All proceeds this year, will go to the Boise Rescue Mission’s City of Light Shelter.

Quincy’s story is an inspiring one, and an example of someone doing what they can to transform a terrible event into something better.

“After the accident, I had to choose to live, or die,” Quincy said, adding that no drugs or alcohol were involved in her son’s death. He was on his way to a concert with his girlfriend, when they lost control of the car on a Nevada road.

She admits to being in a bad state, burdened by high blood pressure and grief after her son died. A doctor warned her that she needed to do something to change.

“Starting the fundraiser was a God inspiration thing,” she said.

When she got home from the doctor’s office, she “fell on her knees,” and asked for God’s help, she said.

“When I got up, I knew Mark was OK and he was in a better place. I wanted to honor him and make his birthday special because he always helped people — young, old, mormons, punk rockers,” Quincy said.

The first year after he died, he took up a collection and bought toys and other items for a children’s charity. The second year, she collected $1,500 in cash and gifts through a raffle for the Nampa Crisis Center.

Organizing the annual fundraiser for her son keeps her busy, she said.

“And I can honestly tell you, last year when we were pulling names for the raffle, it was the most exhilarating feeling. I had a picture of my son when people bought tickets, so they knew why I was doing the raffle. My mom and I sat down like two little girls to draw out the names, it was really cool,” Quincy said.

Questions about the event? Contact Chyrisa Quincy: 695-1105.