Destination Providence Catholic in Fall for Brittany Pirc

The community is continuing its active support for 16-year-old Brittany Pirc, of Elwood, after a car-semi-truck collision on March 27. Pirc and friend, Nicole Beaulieu, of Elwood, were on their way home from track practice.

After the accident, Beaulieu was treated and released Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet.

Family friends, Luigi and Kathy Alberico of Manhattan, together with their daughter, Alissa, a senior at PCHS, have organized a golf outing to raise funds for the Pirc Family.

The golf outing to benefit the Pirc Family is slated for July 28 at on Marley Road. The cost per foursome is $500 with special discounts for high school students. And besides the 18 holes, games and unlimited refreshments are on the agenda. Numerous items are expected to be on-hand to raffle off. Registration forms and sponsorship information are available at the PCHS Main Office.

The fundraiser, dubbed "Team Fierce Pirc Golf Outing Benefit," came out of a simple conversation between Alberico and her daughter. Thinking about the tragedy and praying for Brittany's healing, the two landed on a plan to help cover the costs of overwhelming medical bills.

Alberico said that her husband, Luigi, and Brittany's father, Doug, had grown up together. "They've been friends since they were kids." The benefit was a way to demonstrate the strength of that friendship. Having begun plans in April for the golf outing, Alberico said she's put in hundreds of hours so far.

Preparations called for gathering a significant number of sponsors and gathering raffle items. D'Arcy Motors in Joliet has been very generous, she added. In order to make the golf outing a success, Team Fierce Pirc, which refers to the strength, drive and determination on the part of the Pirc Family, is seeking volunteers to help run the event.

Alissa said, "right now we're still looking for golfers. We're hoping for 60."

Dozens of students and teachers at Providence appeared in a video shot in June at the school, expressing their prayers and well-wishes.

Meanwhile, Brittany's sister, Jan Arnold, of Elwood, said the goal at the moment is for Brittany to heal enough to attend school in the fall. As of now, Arnold said, "she's doing awesome. She has to pass some cognitive skills tests, but it's looking like she will. Right now she still gets confused."

However, after the accident, Arnold almost immediately registered with the Caring Bridge, an online social network to support non-profit fundraising. The site highlights updates by Arnold and Brittany's mother, Tina Pirc. It also offers family and friends a chance to sign a guest book along with a place to make donations. All donations are being administered though a an account called the Brittany Pirc Fund, P.O. Box 0353, Elwood, IL 60421.

According to Arnold, the website gives her mother a chance to share updates without having to take time away from assisting Brittany. At the moment, everything revolves around Brittan—getting her to-and-from therapy, which is now being facilitated at Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet. Previously, Brittany had been a patient at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

Since Brittany is now living back home, her mother made a final entry on July 15.

In part, she wrote: "…We have had quite a journey that has really only just begun. I cannot explain how it felt when this first happened…Our family's strength was tested with this accident. We stuck together never giving up hope, even though at times I did question what the potential long-term outcome would be. I prepared for the worst and hoped and prayed for the best. …"

As Tina Pirc came to a close in her final entry, she revealed a sense of joy and gladness. Signs from well-wishers were posted in front of the family's home, and the neighbors came out in force to welcome Brittany back home.

"The support that we have received from family, friends and strangers is absolutely unbelievable. And it has taught our family more than we could ever have imagined."

In the past few months, Arnold said, her sister has gone from an inability to even raise her head to walking again albeit with the aid of a walker. Her ability to read and write is progressing rapidly.

"She's only a hundred pounds soaking wet, but she's strong."