The Saanich Fire Fighters Charitable Foundation is hoping to raise $15,000 for local families from people attending its Rock & Roll for Little Souls, the largest invitational car show on Vancouver Island, May听29 to 31.
This is the 13th year firefighters have hosted the event, featuring 75 top-notch hot rods, custom and classic cars, trucks and motorbikes.
鈥淥ver the years, with the support of our community, we have raised more than $300,000 for pediatric care in Victoria,鈥� said Jared Barker, director of the foundation. 鈥淲e anticipate close to 2,000 spectators at our three-day event this year, helping us to raise a further $15,000 for our cause.鈥�
Organizations supported by firefighters include the Children鈥檚 Health Foundation of Vancouver Island and the Victoria Hospitals Foundation.
This year, visitors can participate in a few new activities, including experiencing the world-class VRX Racing Simulator and the Fast Time Challenge contest, with prizes for the best track times of the weekend on the Watkins Glen International Road Course.
Attendees can test their reaction times against official drag strip 鈥淐hristmas Tree鈥� lights starting unit, and everyone can enjoy food and beverages by donation.
Admission is by donation. The event runs 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Pearkes Recreation Centre, 3100 Tillicum Rd. For more information, go to rockforlittlesouls.com.
Greek Fest serves up lunch for kids
Students and teachers at Tillicum School were treated to a free Greek lunch last week by members of the Victoria and Vancouver Island Greek Community Society.
Over the past five years, some of Victoria鈥檚 neediest children at the school have been given free hot lunches, thanks to $15,000 raised by Greek Fest Victoria in partnership with the Victoria Hellenic Ladies Auxiliary.
鈥淭his is a great cause,鈥� said Tim Petropoulos, treasurer of the society. 鈥淲hen our community learned just how many students go to school without a proper breakfast or lunch, we were shocked. As a board, we really felt we needed to act and offer some much-needed help.鈥�
Proceeds from the annual Greek festival fund numerous community groups each year, including the hot-lunch program.
鈥淭he hot-lunch program at Tillicum School is a program that is close to our hearts,鈥� said Michael Ikonomou, president of the association. 鈥淐hildren should not go to school hungry in Victoria. We all need to do our part.鈥�
Greek Fest is an annual festival that takes place over two weekends in August. Over the years, proceeds from the event have supported more than a dozen charities that serve children, families and communities. Last year, the society also donated to the Canadian Cancer Society. For more information, go to greekfest.ca.
Donation helps buy ventilator for babies
Premature babies, some weighing less than 450 grams, will breathe easier in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Victoria General Hospital, thanks to a $20,000 donation by the Rexall Foundation.
The foundation, the charitable arm of the national drug-store chain, donated the money to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation to support the purchase of a ventilator for the care unit.
The sophisticated piece of equipment helps infants who are unable to breathe on their own due to underdeveloped lungs.
鈥淲e are very grateful for this generous gift from the Rexall Foundation,鈥� said Gord Macatee, board chairman of the foundation. 鈥淥ur medical teams are dedicated to ensuring our community鈥檚 most vulnerable pediatric patients have the best possible chance at not only surviving, but thriving. This new ventilator will serve hundreds of infants who require specialized care and give them the best chance for a healthy future.鈥�
Every year, more than 500 babies are born prematurely at the hospital, the region鈥檚 pediatric specialty hospital. It operates the only high-level neonatal intensive care unit outside the Lower Mainland.
鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to make a contribution that has such a positive impact on the most fragile babies in the NICU at Victoria General Hospital,鈥� said Atul Sachdeva, regional director for Rexall.
For more information, go to rexall.ca/foundation or victoriahf.ca.
Young filmmaker works to end sexism
A 15-year-old filmmaker is hoping to create a series of short videos to empower and encourage young men to honour and respect women.
Peter Wilson, a two-time winner of the Youth United Anti-Bullying Film Festival, is partnering with Victoria-based Fortress Foundation to develop a series of short videos aimed at 11- to 13-year-old boys.
These films will present the story of a high school student dealing with different aspects of sexism, rape culture and the sexual exploitation of women.
鈥淎s an emerging artist, I have passion for directing film, especially film with the power to make a positive change,鈥� Wilson said.
The foundation is looking to raise $250,000 through both traditional partnerships and crowd-funding to finish the production of the series. It has the support of the City of Victoria, Victoria Police Department and the British Columbia Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons. For more information, go to fortress-foundation.com.
Watch Scout House get听a facelift
The public is invited to a Telus Day of Giving Celebration at Scout House on Saturday.
The Greater Victoria branch of Scouts sa国际传媒 is hosting the event, where people can check out programs, participate in Scouting activities, have lunch, take a tour of the facilities and see volunteers performing a facelift on Scout House.
The event also celebrates a $30,000 grant received from the Telus Victoria Community Board. About 30 Telus employees will be on hand to help with some of the interior painting. A professional contractor will install new exterior siding.
The event is free. It runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 30 at Scout House, 505 Marigold St. Parking available at Spectrum School.
For more information, go to victoriascouts.ca.
Hospice gets $150,000 from three events
A trio of events raised more than $150,000 to help fund end-of-life care programs at Victoria Hospice.
Fourth Annual Hike for Hospice: On May 3, more than 300 participants and 30 canines gathered at Fisherman鈥檚 Wharf Park for the Hike for Hospice, raising more than $47,000. On top of that, long-time donor and supporter Rudi Hoenson had announced he would match all funds raised up to $50,000. He was so pleased with the efforts of the community that he topped up the total to $50,000 鈥� and then matched the entire amount, bringing the grand total to $100,000.
A Little Something 鈥� in May art exhibition: On May 7, the Avenue Gallery hosted a special exhibition of miniature works of art, with partial proceeds going to Victoria Hospice. The event resulted in a donation of almost $2,800 from the gallery and artists involved.
Fifth Annual Anneswer to Cancer: More than 250 soccer players at the Anneswer to Cancer soccer tournament on May 9 raised more than $45,000. The annual fundraiser has raised more than $215,000 since 2011.
鈥淲e are overwhelmed by the support that the Victoria community has shown our organization,鈥� said Mischelle vanThiel, executive director of Victoria Hospice. 鈥淲ith nearly 50 per cent of Victoria Hospice鈥檚 program costs funded by donations, the funds raised will go directly to our efforts to provide the best in end-of-life care for our patients and their families.鈥�
For more information, go to victoriahospice.org.
Raffle supports program to rescue food
The Rotary Clubs of Greater Victoria are selling raffle tickets ($5 each, or three for $10) to raise money for Rotarians for Food Rescue, a program that will see perishable food diverted from dumpsters to feed Victoria鈥檚 vulnerable population.
The service club hopes to raise $100,000 鈥� with a commitment in place to match funds by the Victoria Foundation. The first step in setting up the program is to raise the necessary funds for transportation and storage infrastructure 鈥� the most challenging aspect of any solution involving perishable foods.
Members of the service organization join the Victoria Foundation and 11 local Thrifty Foods grocery stores.
鈥淥ur aim is to provide funding for a major food-recovery system that will see perishable food items move from grocery stores and other sources to the vulnerable populations in the CRD through the Food Share Network,鈥� said Lorna Curtis, Rotary assistant governor. 鈥淚f we succeed, this same system could be implemented in other communities, and we know the need is there.鈥�
The grand prize draw is on Aug. 9.
Those who purchase raffle tickets get a chance to win the grand prize of a 2015 Nissan Rogue. Tickets are available online at rotaryraffle.ca.
Test your skills in camp challenge
There might still be enough time to register for the Easter Seals 24 hour Camp Challenge, a community-based fundraising event that involves groups of people participating in camping and sporting events 鈥� with funds raised going toward Easter Seals Camp Shawnigan.
Teams can be made up of co-workers, recreational groups, friends and family who collect individual pledges or organize team fundraising events to raise money toward their collective team total.
At the two-day event, participants can expect 12 hours of competitive and fun camp challenges and 12 hours of glow-in-the-dark and campfire overnight fun.
Activities include a climbing wall, archery, games in the pool or lake, a soccer-skills challenge and a volleyball tournament.
Wind down to live music, sit by a campfire, show your stuff at a Master Chef Showdown or put on your best poker face at the Texas Hold鈥檈m Challenge.
Proceeds from the event benefit the sa国际传媒 Easter Seals Camps, where children who have mental and/or physical disabilities are able to attend camp with volunteers from the sa国际传媒 Lions Society for Children with Disadvantages.
Teams are required to raise a collective total of at least $100 per team member to participate in the event. The camp runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 6 and 7 at Camp Shawnigan Lake, 2180 East Shawnigan Lake Rd., Shawnigan Lake. To register, visit victoria.24hourcampchallenge.com.
Help fight cancer with听walk/run
Take part in a walk/run May 31 in memory of Madrona Fuentes, who lost her life to acute myeloid leukemia (blood cancer) at the age of two in 2013.
Madrona鈥檚 battle might be over, but other children continue to fight cancer. Her parents, Michelle and Raphael, encourage people to help by donating blood and bone marrow.
People can take part in either a one- or five-kilometre fun walk or run. Snacks and refreshments will be provided at the end.
Participation is by donation. The event starts at 9:30 a.m. at Tulista Park, Sidney. For more information, call Sandy Perry at 250-213-5658.
Riders cycle to aid women in Ghana
Two women have set off on a bike journey across sa国际传媒 to raise $150,000 to empower women half-way around the world.
Last week, Sarah French and Mary Fehr set off from Mile 0 on their Bike to GROW ride, an 8,710-kilometre journey from Victoria to Leamington, Ont.
They are past interns with the Mennonite Economic Development Associates, an international economic development organization founded in 1953 that seeks to create business solutions to poverty.
The two women are fundraising for the organization鈥檚 GROW (Greater Rural Opportunities for Women) project in Ghana, which encourages women to become soybean farmers. The six-year project is funded by sa国际传媒鈥檚 Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development.
鈥淭he GROW project is assisting 20,000 women farmers and their families to sustainably emerge from poverty,鈥� French said. 鈥淢ary and I wanted to support a project that focused on women because we saw the gender inequalities while on our own internships. It couldn鈥檛 be more symbolic: Two women cycling across sa国际传媒 representing independent, self-sufficient women.鈥�
For more information, go to biketogrow.com or meda.org.
