(August 31, 2012) - This week's Billy Johnson Community Hero truly believes in rolling up her sleeves and helping people in need. Alberta Perry's name is known throughout Letcher County as the "go-to person" when money needs to be raised. For the past several years, Alberta was the chair of the Relay For Life in Letcher County, and she has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars! American Cancer Society Community Representative, Bridgette Brashear said Alberty is one of the best fundraisers in the entire region. "Alberta is so very involved in the fight against cancer," explained Brashear. "She has been so instrumental in fundraising and the support of the American Cancer Society that last year, Governor Steve Beshear actually named her an Ambassador."Looking back, Alberta said one of her most memorable and successful fundraisers was held just six months ago, in March. After the deadly eastern Kentucky tornado outbreak, she knew she needed to raise money to benefit the four-legged victims. "I wanted to do something, but I wanted it to be for the animals. I felt that everyone was reaching out to the adults and the children...the people affected," explained Perry. "I wanted to do something for the animals because I felt like they didn't have a voice. I actually held a fundraiser in the parking lot of Wal Mart and collected dog foot, cat food, rabbit food and horse feed. We took straw...we took everything we could!"
She truly believes her desire to help others comes from her childhood in eastern Kentucky, where she was raised to always try to put someone else's needs before your own. "We always tried to help anybody and everybody that we could," she recalls. "And, I think that if you can instill that kind of thinking in a child when you are raising them up, it will follow them through their entire life."
Congratulations, Alberta Perry, this week's Billy Johnson Community Hero!
