Warm hugs made braving frigid weather a lot more bearable for 麻豆精选 residents who were downtown Tuesday afternoon.
The eighth annual free hug event was an homage to 麻豆精选 resident Wayne Cobb, who died in a motorcycle accident in 2010 while saving his son.
One of the huggers braving the cold Tuesday remembers Cobb well, and said it鈥檚 a fitting tribute.
鈥淲ayne was an amazing person who loved to hug,鈥� Monique Saebels said. 鈥淗e had such a big heart and he gave it to everyone. He鈥檚 here today鈥� I know he is.鈥�
Saebels is one of the few people who goes to the event and knew Cobb personally. Others, who did not know him, are dedicated to the event and maintaining his legacy.
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Among them is Kathi Meyn, who knows Cobb鈥檚 wife and children. For her the event鈥檚 appeal lies in the fact it鈥檚 something she does with friends year after year, and that it makes a difference.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the camaraderie, the fun that we鈥檙e going to do this. It takes a little bit of bravery to go up and ask a person 鈥榙o you want a hug?鈥欌�� she said, adding that not everyone wants to partake and that鈥檚 OK, too.
Over the years she鈥檚 handed out countless hugs, and despite the fact there were few people out in the cold on Boxing Day she鈥檇 still doled out quite a few. Some, however, make more of an impression than others.
鈥淭he one that stands out to me was the widower who said he hadn鈥檛 been hugged in nine years,鈥� said Meyn.
That, she said, had an affect on everyone who was there.
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