Georgian Lanes’ 11th annual Knockdown Cancer Campaign officially wrapped on March 24, pushing the fundraiser’s overall total past $90,000.
Jamie Baker, campaign organizer and Lanes’ owner says this year they were able to raise $13,611 during the one-day event.
“This year we had two recipients that we were doing the campaign for. So people from the town nominated locals who are going through cancer, treatments or are in recovery and Mark McEwen and Shelley Burnside were this year’s recipients,” Baker says.
She says that money was divided equally into two parts and each recipient received $6,805.50. “So the money was raised from businesses and individuals who sponsored lanes for the event. We had a silent auction and raised money. People were sponsored to bowl, so that’s how all of the money was raised,” she says.
Baker says a lot of local businesses donated items for the silent auction, including gift baskets, gift cards as well as big water tubes for the summer, courtesy of Parry Sound Auto Parts.
“This year we did have a live band. We had the local band 1331, and they played at the nighttime shifts which was great. Live music got a lot more people out as well, to come out and listen to them and take an extra look at the auction even if they weren’t bowling. So they brought in another crowd too which was great,” she says.
This year was Baker and her husband’s first time organizing the campaign as the Lanes’ new owners. As for next year, Baker says the plan is to keep the tradition going and try to surpass the fund raised each year.
“We want to thank everybody; all of the bowlers, everybody who donated, 1331 for coming in and playing, everybody that dropped in even, all the monetary donations that were sent in and then of course Mark and Shelly for allowing us to be part of their journey,” Baker says.