One of two people being recognized this weekend with Canadian Red Cross Rescuer Awards for their role in saving a six year old girl at Broad Cove beach last summer is giving back to her adopted home.

Barbara Watson of Ontario purchased the old Blackhead United Church and is renting the building out to visitors. She was at Broad Cove beach on August 2 of last summer when a little girl on an inflatable floating device was blown out into the cove and was heading toward the open ocean at alarming speed.

She and Tim Hayes drove out to the point and managed to get the child before she was blown out into the open ocean.

Watson says Broad Cove beach has become increasingly popular in recent years on hot summer days, and as someone who once ran a safety training company, she’s going to make the church available this summer for a fundraiser to get a rescue station on the beach.

She says they’re hoping to equip it with a life buoy, some rope and a pole in case someone runs into trouble. They’re also hoping to erect signs in the area warning visitors about the dangers presented by the ocean.

Watson and Hayes will be presented with Canadian Red Cross Rescuer Awards at the Small Point-Adam’s Cove town hall tomorrow at noon.