Westlock Bowl was a sea of pink at the Jan. 29 wrap-up event for the month-long national campaign to raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Foundation.
“The event turned out much more fantastic that I ever could have dreamed of,” said Carolyn Kohlsmith, event organizer. “It turned out to be way up there — more than what we anticipated.”
The fundraiser brought in $23,621.23, which came from individual pledges, popcorn sales, the team challenge kick-off event and spare change collected at both Westlock Elementary School and St. Mary School.
The walls of Westlock Bowl were lined with pink bowling shoes — one for each person who made a donation.
“It’s quite an inspiring sight to see all of these shoes that represent everyone who’s supported this cause,” she said. “It’s a sea of pink.”
More than 35 league bowlers collected pledges, she said, adding the pledges weren’t limited to just our region. Donations came in from across the country, including Prince Edward Island and the Northwest Territories.
The Canada-wide event challenged bowling centres to donate $.25 from every shoe rental to the Canadian Cancer Foundation. Since most bowlers in Westlock are league members and have their own shoes, Kohlsmith said it simply wasn’t enough.
She said Westlock Bowl would have only raised about $25 throughout the month as a result of shoe rentals.
Mayor Bruce Lennon and MLA Ken Kowalski were on hand at the event to offer congratulations.
“It shows you what can happen when someone like Carolyn and her husband, Garth, decide they want to do something,” Lennon said. “I’ve been to a lot of fundraising events in Westlock and to raise that amount, it’s a real challenge and you should be really proud.”
Kowalski also attended the event, where he was presented with his very own pink bowling shoes — “Custom Kens.”
“You have no idea how proud of you I am,” he said to the crowd. “$23,000 is a lot of $0.25 or $0.50 donations. I’m just delighted.”
He was quick to point out that fundraising efforts in the month of January are ambitious and often difficult, since most people tighten their purse strings after Christmas.
Kohlsmith began planning the event in August, when she first learned of the national challenge. She said the cause is something she wanted to get involved with, as it is something near and dear to her.
“My efforts are dedicated to the memory of my sister, who lost her battle in 2000. But also, more happily, to several relatives who are survivors,” she said.
“Whatever your reasons were, thank you very much.”
Westlock Elementary School and St. Mary School collected a combined $1,370.58 in their spare change collections. The top fundraiser was league bowler Roseann Gezmish, who collected $1,225.
