On Sunday, a benefit for the family of Maddi Boultinghouse was held at the Establishment Theater in Rock Island, to help raise funds for medical bills after the car accident that claimed Maddi's life over the summer.
"We went for a normal walk that we took many days and this time it was just a fateful day," said Blake.
Blake survived her injuries from the accident but her daughter did not. Maddi died on August 3rd, 2014 at four-years-old.
"She was such a positive and happy girl that having that gone from you and just taken from you in an instance is about more than people can take, it's just, it's surreal," said AnneMarie Boultinghouse, Maddi's grandmother. "Hope used to say Maddi didn't just belong to Alex and Hope, she belonged to everybody."
While Blake and her husband worked to move on from this tragedy, the medical bills from the accident were something they were not prepared for.
That's when their friend, Matt Garard, stepped in to help.
Garard is part of a traveling improv comedy group called Mission IMPROVable. He put together Sunday's benefit to help offset some of those medical costs.
"When something like that happens to a friend, it affects you. I'm fortunate enough to have the means at my disposal to be able to organize something like this so I feel like we kind of have to," Garard said. "Maddilyn was a really fun loving girl and we want to try to honor that. It is a very unfortunate set of circumstances but we want to try to come together because life does go on and this is a healing process for everyone involved."
All the proceeds from the event, including the sales from raffles, drinks, food, and tickets, went straight to Maddi's family.
"We're definitely beyond grateful. I can't even put into words, not only or what he did and how thankful we are to him but also the community as well," said Blake.
"Laughter is a big part of who we are, a big part of who Maddi was. So this is just perfect for a celebration of her life," said AnneMarie Boultinghouse. "Maddi would have loved to be here, Maddi would have been on the center stage."
If you missed the show on Sunday, you can still go to Blackhawk State Bank and make a donation under Maddi's Fund.