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Family Fun Derby raises $7,767.19
JCI Kootenay (Junior Chamber International), Fort Steele Heritage Town and Family Fishing Derby sponsors are being thanked for a successful Family Fun Derby at Fort Steele after unseasonably warm weather spoiled plans for the traditional ice fishing event at Horseshoe Lake.
In place of the Family Fishing Derby, JCI Kootenay and Fort Steele Heritage Town teamed up earlier this March to host an active, outdoor event for children and families across the Kootenays.
The Family Fun Derby kept participants entertained with a host of games and contests including children’s mystery catch, bean bag toss, sack race, arts and crafts, tug-o-war, three legged races, wagon rides and a scavenger hunt. The Wildhorse Theatre also featured two showings of the popular animated movie Penguins of Madagascar. For the adults, there was an adult fly casting competition, silent auction, door prizes and 50/50 draw. Hot coffee, hot chocolate and chilli were generously provided by Cranbrook Tim Hortons.
In addition to fundraising over $7,700, local sponsors made some dreams come true for local children.
Dean and Tracey Uphill of Dacota Freight sponsored a trip to Disneyland for Elkford cancer survivor Evan Payne-Smuin and his family; this is a legacy Dean and Tracey have generously continued every year the Derby has been held.
Sunshine Houseboats Ltd. sponsored a houseboat vacation for cancer survivor Austin Fahselt from Jaffray.
The winners of the children’s mystery catch included: Tayton Robison, Ronan Hong, Jack Dakin, Liam Temple and Dan Lunn. Kimberley’s six-year-old Tayton Robison won a 55” Plasma TV and 10-year-old Ronan Hong from Cranbrook won the PlayStation system both courtesy of Caliper Machine & Hydraulics. Rick Hedrick was serendipitously the winner of both 50/50 draws and the adult flycasting competition.
The annual derby is a fundraiser to support children and families with cancer. Lynnette Wray, Canadian Cancer Society Team Lead for Financial Support Programs expresses her appreciation to all involved: “JCI Kootenay did an amazing job with this event, adjusting to some very challenging circumstances, in terms of the warm weather. It was so generous of Fort Steele to step forward to provide an alternate location; that was an amazing example of our East Kootenay community spirit. The funds raised by JCI Kootenay will be used to assist people with their travel and accommodation expenses to attend cancer treatment, through our Canadian Cancer Society Financial Support Program. The Financial Support Program is very well used in the Kootenays, due to our distance from major cancer treatment centres in BC, such as Kelowna and Vancouver, as well as Alberta treatment centres in Calgary and Lethbridge.”
After an unusually mild winter, many of the society’s winter-oriented fundraising events were cancelled across the province. Wray notes the society is especially grateful for the alternative Fun Derby.
“On behalf of the Canadian Cancer Society, I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to JCI Kootenay, Fort Steele, all the businesses and organizations that donated to the event, and everyone who attended. We look forward to an even bigger and better event next year.” With a better winter, the event will return to the ice next year.
Special thanks to the Derby’s generous event sponsors who contributed time, services and donations and those who were willing should the original ice derby have proceeded.
Whale Sponsors: Dacota Freight Servcies Ltd., Caliper Machine & Hydraulics, Sunshine Houseboat Vacations, Tim Hortons Cranbrook, Genex Marketing and Jay’s Jewellers, Fort Steele Heritage Town.
Big Fish Sponsors: Just Music, Jim Pattison Broadcasting Cranbrook, Anywear Garment, Kootenay Knit and Apparel, Fernie Ford, Economy Vacuum Tankers and Wrights Vacuum Service, FabRite Services, William’s Moving & Storage, Blue Sky Realty.
All Sponsors and supporters: Action Rentals, Culligan Water, EB Horseman, Farbrook Auto Parts, Jepson Petroleum, Kootenay Fuel Injection, Kootenay Truck and Saw, Mulisha Small Engine Repairs, The Rustic Hutch, Top Crop Farm and Pet, Wasa & District Lions Club, White Storm, Sullivan Pub, Kimberley Timber Mart, Real Deals Home Decor, Cold Country Traffic Control & Towing, Cranbrook Search and Rescue, Sandor Rentals, Local View Printing and Design, Kootenay Kwik Print, Snap’d East Kootenay, East Kootenay News Online Weekly (e-KNOW), Daily Bulletin, Daily Townsman, Kootenay Advertiser, Wolfpack Design & Printing, True Flight Archery, Trends N’ Treasures, Kootenay Fly Fishing Club, Rick’s Fine Meats, M&M’s Meat Shop, Kootenay Granite, Save On Foods Cranbrook, Extra Foods Fernie, Denham Ford, Crystal Glass, Canadian Tire Fernie, Kootenay Communications, BA Blacktop, A&W Cranbrook, New Energy Wellness Spa, Mr. Mike’s Steakhouse, Frida Vicklund Photography and more.
Lead image: Family Fun Derby Volunteers. Photo by Yvette Relkoff.
