PORT ANGELES — John Curley, former host of KING-TV’s “Evening Magazine” and the special guest for the Sept. 24 Healthy Harvest fundraiser in Port Angeles, will share a tale of how one word that a stranger yelled to him 20 years ago on a New Jersey bridge changed his life.
Curley on Monday declined to reveal the word.
“The word was not ‘jump,'” Curley joked.
He says he doesn’t want to give it away.
A Western Washington celebrity for more than 14 years, Curley, 47, signed off from “Evening Magazine” on April 23 at Seattle’s Pike Place Market.
He now makes speaking engagements like the one he’ll make in Port Angeles for Volunteers in Medicine of the Olympics later this month.
“I will tell you what happened on that bridge on that sunny, cool October day is something that I try and use every day of life,” Curley said.
“I have given this talk numerous times around the country and look forward to speaking with the good people in Port Angeles.”
Volunteers in Medicine of the Olympics, or VIMO, puts on Healthy Harvest as a fundraiser for the free and low-cost health clinic.
At CrabHouse
The second Healthy Harvest is Sept. 24 at the Port Angeles CrabHouse Restaurant, 221 N. Lincoln St.
Tickets cost $65 per person.
Reservations are required. They can be made by phoning Patty Hannah at 360-452-8656 or the VIMO clinic at 360-457-4431.
The clinic at 909 Georgiana St. sees uninsured and under-insured patients for non-emergency care.
The idea is to help those who would otherwise use Olympic Medical Center’s emergency room for primary care or to delay necessary care because of financial concerns.
VIMO holds two medical clinics per week with volunteer doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians assistants and support staff.
The clinics include behavioral health, prescription assistance and education classes for patients with diabetes.
Goal: 220 tickets
More than 150 tickets have been sold for Healthy Harvest. Organizers are hoping for 220, which would generate $14,300.
VIMO’s operating budget for 2008 was about $150,000, clinic executive director Larry Little told the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce earlier this year.
The said the clinic saw 717 patients last year and expected to see double that this year.
The main sponsors of Healthy Harvest are First Federal, Westport Shipyard and Physicians Insurance — A Mutual Insurance Company.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
