Registration is open for this year鈥檚 Cycle of Life Tour, a popular cycling fundraiser in July for end-of-life care.
This is the sixth year of the two-day group-cycling event, presented by Think Communications.
In July, 85 riders will embark on a 200-kilometre cycling tour through the Saanich Inlet and Cowichan Valley, with overnight camping on Salt Spring Island.
While all cyclists will enjoy a fully supported ride, many find extra motivation in a team approach.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 have done the tour without the support of the gang that I rode with,鈥� said Veronica Foster, a budget analyst at Island Health.
Teams and individual riders are supported by a crew of dedicated volunteers, sponsors and suppliers. There is something for everyone 鈥� the event even offers live music and a beer tent.
To take part in the ride, participants commit to raising funds for their local hospice. There are 10 hospice societies in the region, including Victoria, Salt Spring Island, Sooke, Cowichan Valley, Nanaimo, Oceanside, Alberni Valley, Pacific Rim, Campbell River and Comox Valley.
All the hospices rely heavily on community donations to continue providing end-of-life care for patients and their families.
The Cycle of Life Tour has raised more than $497,000 since 2011.
Registration is open for the ride, which takes place July 28 and 29. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
For more information, go to cycleoflifetour.ca.
Hockey for Hospitals returns for fourth year
For a fourth consecutive year, the Victoria Royals have teamed up with the Victoria Hospitals Foundation to present Hockey for Hospitals to support emergency care in local hospitals.
On Saturday, the team will face off against the Calgary Hitmen to raise funds for a cardiac-rhythm monitor for the emergency department of Royal Jubilee Hospital. Funds will be raised through a portion of ticket sales, 50/50 ticket sales on game night and the popular Chuck-a-Puck contest, which takes place at intermission.
The fundraiser will support the Victoria Hospitals Foundation鈥檚 $3.2-million Campaign for Cardiac Care, In a Heartbeat: Everyday Miracles.
The foundation鈥檚 goal is to purchase equipment that allows clinicians to analyze a patient鈥檚 vital signs, including pulse, respiration, electrocardiography rhythm, blood pressure and body temperature 鈥� crucial information for diagnosis and treatment of cardiac patients.
鈥淚 use the cardiac rhythm monitor every single day,鈥� said Dr. Chris Morrow, Royal Jubilee Hospital site chief of emergency and trauma. 鈥淲ith a growing number of patients needing emergency care, and especially for patients with cardiac issues who need immediate attention, having this equipment is incredibly important.鈥�
In 2017, the emergency department treated more than 57,000 cases, 9,500 of which were cardiac emergencies. Since 2015, Hockey for Hospitals has raised more than $62,000 to fund leading-edge equipment.
Tickets are available online at victoriahf.ca/tickets.
Beaver Medals looking for nominations
The Maritime Museum of British Columbia is inviting nominations for its SS Beaver Medals, an annual award that recognizes outstanding achievements in sa国际传媒鈥檚 marine sector.
Nominations are encouraged for individuals who have made noteworthy contributions to marine interests in the province, including, but not limited to, the fields of science, technology, business, applications of maritime skills, nautical heritage and culture, and academic offerings.
An award is also made to recognize a noteworthy organization, vessel or technological project.
鈥淭he marine sector generates roughly eight per cent of the province鈥檚 gross domestic product, and this involves a wide span of activities. The Maritime Museum sponsors the SS Beaver award to help raise awareness about this diverse sector and to recognize outstanding individuals,鈥� said Jan Drent, a member of the medal steering committee. 鈥淧ast winners range from entrepreneurs to naval architects, boatbuilders, innovators in technology, publishers, authors, historians, a hydrographer, a marine artist and a museum curator.鈥�
The gold-plated medal is struck from copper salvaged from the pioneering paddlewheel steamship SS Beaver, built in England in 1835 for the Hudson鈥檚 Bay Company. She served local waters for 53 years.
She pioneered commercial navigation on the sa国际传媒 coast as a floating trading post, hydrographic survey ship and towboat.
She grounded near Vancouver in 1888, and her salvaged machinery provides the metal for the Beaver Medal.
Potential recipients will be selected by a committee made up of members of the Chamber of Shipping of sa国际传媒, the Prince Rupert Port Authority, sa国际传媒 Ferries, a former coast guard captain, a distinguished marine historian, a marine writer and a past-president of the Maritime Museum.
The deadline for nominations is May 18. Nomination information and forms are located at mmbc.bc.ca/about-2/s-s-beaver-medal.
Marathon charity program is open now
The GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon is accepting applications for the CHEK Charity Pledge Program.
Entering its 14th year, the program helps charities raise awareness and funds by encouraging individuals to collect pledges for聽running or walking the event for their personal causes.
鈥淭he Charity Pledge Program is a great opportunity for large and small charities to raise money and awareness by using the marathon as a fundraising platform,鈥� said Cathy Noel, general manager. 鈥淲e have worked with charities that want to raise a few thousand dollars, to those that have a goal of $100,000. It takes work to raise money and by partnering with the marathon, the charities don鈥檛 have to worry about the logistics of organizing an event, they just have to be ambassadors of their own cause. We encourage charities to apply now.鈥�
In 2017, 11 charities enrolled in the program raised more than $112,000 through online and off-line donations, bringing the total raised since 2005 to $1.85 million.
Applications for the 2018 CHEK Charity Pledge Program will be accepted until Feb. 28. For more information and to apply, go to runvictoriamarathon.com/ fundraising.
Chefs face off in聽foodie聽fundraiser
Five of Victoria鈥檚 top chefs will once again get together to take part in Hungry Hearts 鈥� a savoury soir茅e that raises funds for Our Place, Feb. 7 at the Inn at Laurel Point.
Celebrating its fifth year, the culinary event has been described as the best foodie fundraiser in Victoria.
Five of Victoria鈥檚 most exciting chefs will take part in a Battle of the Champions to see who can create the most tantalizing savoury bite. The judges are everyone who buys a ticket to attend the event.
鈥淭he competition will be fierce,鈥� says Don Evans, executive director of Our Place. 鈥淭he聽winners will be everyone who gets to taste the gourmet creations.鈥�
Two-time winner Castro Boateng of House of Boateng is the defending champion. This year he is up against some stiff competition from Austin Lu of Inn at Laurel Point, Tyler Paquette of Fish Hook Mermaid Wharf, Nicholas Waters of Toque Catering and Kevin Macneil of Whole Foods.
Our Place chefs will create a delicious vegetarian option.
A top-secret 鈥� but guaranteed decadent 鈥� dessert will be provided by Cakes Etc.
Attendees will enjoy live music from Lola Parks, auctions and other fun activities while they decide which culinary creation will earn their heart token.
Local philanthropist Terry Farmer will emcee, while Eric Charman will conduct a live auction for some prize packages.
Since its inception, Hungry Hearts has raised more than $485,000 in support of Our Place Society, an inner-city community centre serving people experiencing homelessness, addiction, poverty and mental-health challenges.
Tickets for the event are $125. It runs from 5 to 8:30 p.m., Feb. 7, at the Inn at Laurel Point, 680聽Montreal St.
For more information, or for tickets, call 250-413-3161, email [email protected] or go to ourplacesociety.com/ hungry-hearts.
Our Place needs clothing聽donations
The wardrobe at Our Place is tragically bare, and the inner-city community centre is in desperate need of clothing.
Although they need clothing of all kinds, they are really hoping to receive men鈥檚 jeans, pants, waterproof outerwear, shirts and T-shirts.
Every piece of donated clothing is sorted and delivered directly to vulnerable people in our community at no charge.
Clothing is accepted 24/7 at Our Place, 919 Pandora Ave.
Barron Prize seeks聽young聽heroes
The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes has just announced that it is doubling the award amount, to $10,000 per winner.
Established in 2001 by author T.A. Barron, the award annually honours 25 outstanding young leaders, ages eight to 18, who have made a significant positive impact on people, their communities or the environment. It celebrates social entrepreneurship spearheaded by young people from diverse backgrounds across North America.
A lifetime champion of youth, Barron believes that no one is too young to do something helpful.
The winners can use the monetary award to support their service work or toward higher education.
Since its inception, the prize has recognized 417 young leaders and has won the support of the National Geographic Education Foundation, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. and National Youth Leadership Council, among other organizations.
Applications are accepted online only and are due by April 15. Winners will be announced in September. For more details, and to apply, go to barronprize.org.
Local group fundraising for prosthetics
A local non-profit that designs low-cost, 3D-printed prosthetics to amputees around the world is hosting a fundraiser so that it can provide the same service in sa国际传媒.
The Victoria Hand Project is a non-profit organization, based in Victoria, that provides prosthetic hands to amputees. Their 3D-printed upper-limb prostheses are available to amputees via partnerships with clinics in Cambodia, Ecuador, Egypt, Guatemala, Haiti and Nepal.
Their work was recognized by the Google.org Impact Challenge, where they received a grant for succeeding as one of the finalists in the competition in 2017.
Ironically, they do not have funding to help Canadian amputees who have requested their product 鈥� which is called the Victoria Hand.
They have launched a crowdfunding campaign, with a goal of $8,000, so they can fit more than 20 Canadian amputees.
For information, or to donate, go to victoriahandproject.com. They are also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
