Squamish has set a new standard for fundraising for The Canadian Kidney Foundation after the community rallied to raise at least $36,000 for initiatives supported by the foundation.
Stacey Harding primarily organized the fundraiser, called the Roundup for Research.
She reported after the event that jail and bail raised the largest amount ever in one day in the 14-year history of the event.A total of 34 people were brought into custody in a makeshift jail cell just inside the main doors of Save-on-Foods. Each convict was charged with a bogus crime and sentenced to raise money for the Kidney Foundation. The suspects all had a goal amount they had to try and raise within one hour using wireless phones.
"The Power Hour was the 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. group," said Harding.
Brian McIntosh, Val Rowse, Chris Rommel, Steve Chapman, Ray Hicks and Shawn Hicks occupied the cell for that hour. Rowse was still collecting after she was released and Harding said the Rowse total was last estimated at somewhere near $5,000.
McIntosh brought in more than $4,000 while Rommel was last reported at more than $3,600 and Chapman was north of $2,000 in pledges. Ray topped $1,000 in pledges and Shawn raised at least $500.
The final tally for the entire event is expected on Nov. 15, but in the meantime, Harding is confident the figure will be much higher than the initial estimates after the event."I am betting that we will be close to $40,000 by the time we are done," she said.
The foundation offers services to people suffering with kidney issues and Harding said she heard from a number of Squamish people who had transplants and received financial help through the foundation's patient services program. The Kidney foundation will provide accommodation and counseling resources for patients living in Squamish and those services are also available for family members of the patient.
Out of each dollar the kidney foundation puts 40 per cent to research and 10 per cent to patient services. The rest goes to public education and organ donation awareness, support services and foundation development.
"Kidney disease is the number three killer in Canada," Harding said, "and is virtually undetectable until it reaches either a stage four or five, which is when organ failure and bodily functions are affected."
It is estimated that 145,000 people in BC and 1.9 million people in Canada currently have kidney disease and don't know it, said Harding.
The disease is preventable if it is detected early.
Harding said a group of 21 people helped her with the project. On top of her core volunteers there was also a group of people who helped with the pancake breakfast the morning of the event. She expects to get even more help in organizing the event next year as a number of people said they wanted to help her with the event next [email protected]
