Now and again one sees or reads about an event that truly catches one’s imagination. This experience happened to me a couple of weeks ago watching BBC World News while on a treadmill. Well, what else is there to occupy one’s mind while exercising?
There was a documentary on BBC about a fundraising event that occurs in the U.K. every two years called Sports Relief. They raise money to help the underprivileged with the proceeds being used in two ways – half for social programming groups within the U.K. and the other half for special projects somewhere else in the world where there is a dire need for assistance.
During the fundraising period they involve royalty, elected officials, celebrities in sports, movies, arts, etc. Engaging people in crazy activities, one participant ran 43 marathons in 51 days, another swam the Thames. The concept is to be creative or crazy, but have fun and raise money.
My imagination has been running in top gear ever since. I believe that this concept would fit in extremely well in our community here in St. Albert. I am sure there will be a group of people who will automatically say “that will never work here.” I don’t agree. Can you imagine schools, service clubs, leaders of our faith community, individuals, groups of neighbours, visual and performing arts groups and sports groups, all trying to think outside the box and coming up with creative or crazy activities to raise money for people who are in dire need of our help?
You may well ask what kind of activity could one do? Well, here are just a few thoughts:
A round of golf with all eighteen holes being situated within the city limits and one would have to drive from one hole to the next tee.
Navigate the Sturgeon River from the source to the mouth by canoe; anywhere the canoe cannot go it has to be carried.
A tug of war between teams with the rope going across the river. Yes, the losing side would land up in the drink.
An invent-a-thon, by individuals or groups inventing something new that would benefit the community.
A marathon run by 20 people or more, each doing one leg at a time.
Crazy you may say, but what fun and at the same time we would be helping people and bringing our community even closer.
I suggest we do this every two years and the proceeds would be shared. Fifty per cent would be used for groups in St. Albert and would include the Community Village, Food Bank, Stop Abuse in Families, Side Kicks, Parents’ Place, the homeless, seniors and youth. The other 50 per cent would go to finance sustainable projects somewhere in the world that would help some of the most hard-pressed communities, as yet to be determined.
Stop and think for a second, if one person out of every six participated and only raised $100 in pledges or sponsorship we could raise one million dollars. Think how much goodness that could do in our community and elsewhere.
What should we call it? The one that comes to mind and really seems to fit is Box Relief. We think outside the Box to raise money to give Relief to so many others.
So for once every two years we think outside the box, be crazy or creative, have lots of fun and help people at the same time. Together we can really make things happen.
Gareth Jones and his outside-the-box thinking have been heavily involved in promoting St. Albert for decades. If you would like to get involved or have out-of-the-box suggestions, please email us at [email protected].
