Today is the day that 34 local charities and organizations have been looking forward to all year. It's the occasion of the 12th annual Mayor's Walk for Charity, and the event just keeps getting bigger and better.
"I think the walk is a great way to continue something special … assisting the ongoing funding needs of charities," Dan Roy of Roy Financial, the event's title sponsor, wrote on the event's website.
It's such a popular group fundraiser that several non-profit organizations from our neighbour city to the south – including the Edmonton Dream Centre and the Edmonton branch of the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association – have signed up to participate.
There are even several St. Albert groups that haven't received much public notice despite their importance to the community. Breakfast for Learning offers nutritious food to schoolchildren who would otherwise start their days in class with empty bellies. The Friends of St. Albert Housing Society helps financially struggling families find good housing.
The event starts at 9:30 a.m. from St. Albert Place. Participants can engage in either a three-kilometre walk or an eight-km run. The sponsorship by several businesses covers all of the overhead costs so that 100 per cent of pledges go directly to the charities.
Visit www.royfinancialmayorswalk.com for more information.
Autorama bursting at the seams
Before the event took place two weekends ago, organizers were hoping to corral the numbers of participants in the 20th annual Autorama.
Last year's event went up to 165 registrants, even though the limit was 150. That maximum was going to be vigilantly enforced this time around, said Eric Sigvaldason, a member of the St. Albert Cruisers, the group that puts on the show and shine.
Something must have gone awry, but in a very good way because on May 27 instead of 150, Autorama 2012 featured approximately 225 classic cars and motorcycles.
"I have no idea where they put them all," said Sigvaldason. "They might have expanded our territory a little bit. Hard to say."
He still categorized the event as a huge success, although final financial figures are still being compiled. Since each registrant had to pay a $10 fee, at least $2,250 was brought in. Sigvaldason said that the tally would be much higher after all on-site sales and other fundraising efforts are compiled.
The proceeds from the event went to support St. Albert Stop Abuse in Families.
Bus drivers golf for LoSeCa
Many of the city's bus drivers took to the links on their day off last Saturday. Rather than a casual game of golf for fun, their purpose was to help fundraise for LoSeCa, the local non-profit that offers residential and day supports to adults with developmental disabilities.
The group of employees of Pacific Western Transportation were originally just going to hold the tourney but some soul-searching made them realize that the event could have a higher purpose.
"I said that we should have it for charity," said Marina Knowles. "We deal with the passengers from LoSeCa on a daily basis, so it just made sense. They're a part of our lives as much as we are a part of theirs."
They raised $800. Knowles added that they were so appreciative of the many businesses that offered prizes. The group intends to go for another round next year.
