June 21, 2000
Community rallies behind Peterson
Foodservice industry holds fund-raiser for manager injured in accident
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Driving home just north of Alden on the Sunday before Memorial Day, Cathy Peterson swerved to avoid hitting a small animal. Driving at high speed on a country road, her Jeep slid out of control on some gravel and hurtled into a tree.
Peterson's reflexive moment of compassion altered her life forever. The impact severed her spinal cord and damaged two vertebrae; her legs are now paralyzed and she will use a wheelchair for the rest of her life. With two young children, she and her husband, Bill, face innumerable changes in their lives, spanning the gamut from emotional to practical adjustments.
Showing their support and helping to defray the costs of the lifestyle changes - which include an adapted car, wheelchair ramps and a remodeled kitchen and bathroom - are the couple's friends and co-workers in the hospitality industry.
A benefit for Cathy Peterson will be held at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa from 6 to 9 p.m. this Sunday. Donations of time, materials, space, food and flowers have poured in from area restaurants, wineries and foodservice companies. This means that 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the Peterson family and to spinal cord injury research.
"It's one of those things where all the restaurant people and the whole hospitality industry are pulling for her," said Mike Peterson of Alden, her brother-in-law, speaking for the family. "Cathy and Bill made a lot of friends over the years and the industry is pretty tight."
Together the Petersons and Bill's brother, Mike, have made their mark in the industry, which, while competitive and high-pressure, shows it takes care of its own. Together they owned Spencer Creek restaurant in Alden, just closing it New Year's Eve after eight years.
After that, all three moved on to positions with other restaurants. Cathy was the manager at the Trillium restaurant at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa at the time of her accident, while Bill is the manager at Whispers in Bellaire.
As news of the accident quickly spread, offers of help began pouring in. While Cathy has been in a hospital in Grand Rapids since the accident and is just starting six weeks of therapy before she can come home, her friends have been busy. They have lined up ten different restaurants to host food stations, donations for a silent auction and pegged an ambitious goal of raising $20,000-25,000.
Because of the intense outpouring of support, the Peterson family and other organizers decided to have the fund-raiser right away, despite it being the beginning of the hospitality industry's busiest season.
"There was just no question what you do when you have that kind of tragedy happen in the community," said Cathy Cooley, district sales manager for Sysco Food Service, who has worked with the Petersons for 10 years. "It could happen to any of us; we've all driven that road and made a mistake and tried to save a chipmunk. It's very refreshing to see people being so generous."
Tickets to the Cathy Peterson benefit are $50 per person and include dinner, wine and music. They can be purchased at the Grand Traverse Resort and other area restaurants or by phoning 231-331-4131. Other contributions may be directed to the 'Catherine Peterson Fund,' Alden State Bank, P.O. Box 29, Alden, MI 49612.