Submitted
Mark your calendars for Monday, February 8th as the Family Fishing Derby for Kids with Cancer will be back for its 7th year this BC Family Day.
Organized by JCI Kootenay and held at Horseshoe Lake from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the annual Derby has become a Kootenay tradition bringing together communities and families from Cranbrook, Creston, Fernie, Golden, Invermere, Jaffray, Kimberley and Trail.
Uniquely Kootenay, this event keeps the whole family entertained with ice fishing, tobogganing, hockey, and plenty of kids’ activities including tug-o-war, fishing for a prize, ice jug bowling and crafts. Hot food and beverages will be available by donation to keep everyone fuelled for the day for fun.
More than just a fun event, the Derby is a grass-roots fundraiser supported by local businesses, media, and volunteers to help families of children battling cancer. Proceeds are distributed by the Canadian Cancer Society to support travelling to treatment, accommodation, wigs, cancer information and peer support.
The Derby also helps local children faced with cancer enjoy a much
deserved vacation from treatment. Dacota Freight sponsors a Disneyland vacation and Sunshine Houseboats sponsors a houseboat vacation on Lake Koocanusa.
If your family or someone you know has a child facing cancer or has battled cancer in the past, please contact Mike Matejka (250-919-5532) with the Derby who can provide tickets, assist with travel and accommodations for the event, and enter the family into a draw for the Disneyland and houseboat trips.
This is the second year the Derby is being organized by JCI Kootenay. While they have a strong group of committee members and volunteers, the Derby still needs more members of the community to help out the day of the event, so please contact them using the information below.
The Family Fishing Derby would like to thank its WHALE sponsors Genex Marketing, Tim Hortons, Dacota Freight, Sunshine Houseboats, Caliper Machine & Hydraulic, Williams Moving and Storage, Kootenay Knitting and Summit 107.
Tickets are just $10 for adults (16+) and $5 for children and seniors. Everyone needs a ticket to participate in the event and fishing licenses are required.
Tickets can be purchased at the following locations:
• in Cranbrook: Mountain Man, Cancer Society, Bumbletree and Fort Steele Gas Station;
• in Kimberley: Overwaitea Foods and Home Hardware in the Platzl;
• in the Columbia Valley: Local View Printing and Design;
• in Fernie: Ann’s Your Independent Grocer;
• in Jaffray: Pump & Pantry.
For more information about the Family Fishing Derby, contact Event Chair Chris Bosman at 250-919-3511 or familyfishingderby@jcikootenay.com, visit the website at www.FamilyFishingDerby.com or find the event on Facebook by searching “Family Fishing Derby.”