While five Edmonton firefighters enjoyed the milder spring weather during a four-day camping trip/muscular dystrophy fundraiser on top of an Edmonton fire hall this week, their St. Albert counterparts decided not to set up their own tent until next year.
Due to the volunteer nature of the event, St. Albert firefighters did not have the time to prepare for the fundraiser without negatively affecting regular operations.
"Due to our planning for this year we couldn't get it in place. We'll be doing the full campout in 2011. That's our hope," explained fire Chief Ray Richards.
Richards did say the fire department is still collecting donations for Muscular Dystrophy Canada (MDC) at fire station No. 3.
"This is a very good cause so, with a little more planning, we'll get in the full swing in 2011."
Muscular dystrophy is the name for a group of genetic neuromuscular disorders that cause a progressive weakening and wasting of an individual's muscles. It can cause a person to lose the ability to walk, speak and breathe. It currently affects about 50,000 Canadians. There is no cure.
To learn more about muscular dystrophy or the charity, please call the MDC's Edmonton office at 780-489-6322 or visit www.muscle.ca. Donations will be accepted until early next week. Please feel free to drop off your contribution at fire station No. 3 during regular office hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is located at 100 Giroux Road.
Stars of Hope
The woman heading this year's instalment of a charity dance performance has hailed the event a major success.
Local resident Shari VanderWoude, a dance instructor in Edmonton, announced that Stars of Hope last weekend raised more than $33,000 for the Kids with Cancer Society. The one-night show at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium featured more than 600 dancers and choreographers from 26 different studios including the St. Albert Ballet Academy, DanceCo and the Art of Dance.
She conceded they fell short of their goal and last year's total, but shrugged off the minor shortcoming.
"This year we didn't have a private donor that had donated a substantial amount. They probably donated straight to the Kids with Cancer Society (KCS) rather than through us. Last year it was higher. I just keep increasing the goal. For a third-party fundraiser like this we do an extraordinary amount."
VanderWoude is more concerned about how the event shows youth the benefits of giving back to the community, especially a charity that helps people of a similar age group. She especially approves of the programs and services like psychological counselling that KCS provides to children and their families.
"That aspect … is just so wonderful."
With this year's donations, the event has raised more than $188,000 since 2003.
To learn more about the Kids with Cancer Society, call 780-496-2459 or visit www.kidswithcancer.ca.
