Steven Hill
shill@squamishchief.com
Nothing's better than spending Saturday afternoon in a dark theatre watching an entertaining Hollywood movie - nothing, that is, unless you're also doing it for a pretty good cause.
Make your movie viewing worth more on Saturday April 1 as Garibaldi 5 Cinema hosts a special showing of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, with proceeds going to benefit the Canadian Cancer Society's Relay For Life. Enjoy the further exploits of Harry the young wizard-in-training and his school chums, and benefit a local event, which takes place June 23 at Brennan Park Recreation Centre from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
"It is the second year we have done it in Squamish," said Tamsyn Morote, Squamish Relay For Life coordinator. "Last year it was very successful."
Essentially, the Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life is a 12-hour event, where numerous teams take part in an overnight non-competitive relay.
"For the entire 12-hours someone from a team is walking on the course," said Morote.
"Teams get pledges and they do other fundraising efforts as well before the event."
Along with raising funds for cancer research and raising cancer awareness, the event also serves as a "celebration of survival", according to Morote, and a tribute to loved ones who have been touched by the disease.
Many who take part in the event have or have recovered from cancer, or are family members of those who have contracted the disease.
This year's event is already shaping up to be better than the previous Relay For Life.
"Last year we had 20 teams. This year our goal is to have 35 teams," she said. "We are already at 29 teams. We are doing amazing. It is nice to see the way it has grown."
Although individual teams will also be coming up with their own fundraising events prior to the actual relay, Morote said this was a kickoff fundraiser for the event itself.
"We approached Jay DeWitt from the movie theatre and he is allowing us to keep the proceeds from admission for the Relay For Life. We are asking for a minimum donation of $5 per person," she said.
"We will also have a desk set up so people can ask us questions about the event, register a team or volunteer. Even if they're not going to the movie, people can come by and get some information."
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire runs April 1 at Garibaldi 5 Cinema at Noon.
For more information about the Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life click to www.cancer.ca or call Marote at 604-898 1012.
