Annual fundraiser held in honor of family who died from carbon monoxide
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POCATELLO — Three years ago a Pocatello family went to sleep for the last time. Bill Parrish, his wife Ross, and their two young sons were found in their home by family members after they had died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
“After Bill and Ross and Keegan (14) and Liam (12) (Parrish) passed away toward the end of February three years ago we were beside ourselves with grief. We wanted to do something about it,” Tournament director Fred Parrish said.
Bill Parish was Fred Parrish’s cousin. Fred, a member of the Chubbuck Lions Club, said that after his cousin passed, he and others have worked to build awareness and educate the community about the danger.
In their memory, the Chubbuck Lions Club is now sponsoring a 3-on-3 basketball tournament to be held at the Holt Arena on July 22 and 23. Locals can sign up to play on teams in the tournament.
“We just don’t want to see anyone else suffer from the tragedy that befell our family. We’ve made good progress. We’ve been contacted by lots of people. There have been a number of incidents here in east Idaho recently even where people were protected because they had a CO detector,” Parrish said. “We think the awareness that we help generate through this event is part of that success.”
Parrish said many people in the community have gathered to support their cause. Key sponsors have joined in the event including Portneuf Medical Center, and the No CO Foundation. No CO was started by Bill Parrish’s sister Carrie Curtis and her husband Brian Curtis. They educate and provide those in need with corbon monoxide detectors.
“He said we need to make sure this never happens in anybody’s homes ever again, or even in a businesses or a hotel. Anywhere, where someone could be caught unaware that there’s carbon monoxide,” Curtis said. “It just didn’t hit home until it was, of course our family.”
Curtis urges families to have at least one detector in their home even if they feel there isn’t a direct threat. She said carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless gas can come from other sources than just gas appliances. It can also come from wood burning fire places, generators and car exhaust.
“There are still those other ways that you can receive carbon monoxide (poisoning),” Curtis said. “I absolutely love hearing the stories of people who have them in there homes and accidents or illnesses or deaths have been prevented.”
The tournament will start at 5 p.m on Friday, July 22 and team check in is at 4 p.m. On Friday teams will get three games with no elimination. Saturday, July 23 at 9 a.m. the tournament will start with a double elimination games.
Parrish said over the last few years, they’ve had around 50 teams particiate in the annual event and raised upwards of $10,000. He also said First Alert corporation has donated 100 carbon monoxide detectors to give away.
“It’s great event. It’s fun. There’s nothing really like it in Eastern Idaho. The event itself really is a service,” Parrish said.
To register a team go to the Chubbuck Lions official website.