The story starts when Charlie Fraser, a friend of Judy MacKenzie’s, was diagnosed with cancer. Charlie was known to his friends as Charlie “Pride” Fraser after his favourite artist, Charley Pride. Charlie really enjoyed playing his guitar and he wanted Judy to learn to play so she could enjoy it like he did. A couple years after Charlie passed away, Judy decided to do something special in memory of her friend.

Since then, Judy and her partner, Gary Hunter, have been travelling around North America collecting signatures from country singers and entertainers on this Fender Balboa guitar. They have collected over 100 signatures so far and their goal is to auction the guitar off to raise money for cancer research. Judy approached Durham Furniture about building a cabinet to showcase the guitar. Durham built a spectacular custom-built cherry display cabinet and they are now working with Judy and the Canadian Cancer Society to help publicize and promote the cause. The guitar is destined to be auctioned in Spring 2011 with all proceeds to be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society.