Portrait of courage helps Fort McMurray fire relief effort

A man who fled the flames in Fort McMurray is now using his artistic talent to help the city’s recovery effort.

Russell Thomas has painted a portrait of Fire Chief Darby Allen, a man many are calling a hero.

For the latest stories on the Fort McMurray wildfire, click here

Thomas painted the portrait after relocating to Calgary last week, and he’s hoping to eventually present it as a gift to the Fort McMurray Fire Department.

Visit Thomas’ Facebook page here

“The chief, he’s a humble man, he doesn’t want any of this praise,” Thomas said. “But it represents the courage of the hundreds of men and women who were there…So brave.”

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Calgary printing company Run Digital has the presses going on prints of the painting, and Thomas is requesting donations to the United Way from anyone who orders one.

“Those prints are going to raise tens of thousands of dollars for the recovery effort that we have to start once we get back home,” Thomas said.

READ MORE: Where Fort McMurray fire evacuees can get help and information

Along with being an amateur artist, Thomas is also communications director for the United Way in Fort McMurray.

“We need to have the resources in place when people get home,” he said. “And that’s what this is about – the recovery phase.”

Thomas is also auctioning off two other original paintings he’s done since arriving in Calgary with his family. Those proceeds will also go to the United Way.

His actions come just two years after Thomas first picked up a brush, going on to teach himself to paint.

“I’m very grateful that a skill that I’ve developed can actually help people,” Thomas said. “Just honoured to do it.”

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