If you are looking to have a fun evening, filled with lots of friends, wonderful items to bid on, and delicious hors d’oeuvres, then make sure you are at the Copper Point Golf Club next Thursday, April 12.

That is the night for our annual Relay for Life Kick Off Party, and all the action begins at 6:30 p.m.

The valley’s favourite auctioneer Tex Lortscher will be there, helping us get top dollar for our live auction items. Up for grabs is a wonderful two-day accommodation for up to eight people at the beautiful Nipika Mountain Resort. We still have one of our ice fishing shacks built by the College of the Rockies students last year, and I have made another quilt this year. Butch of VJ Bishop Excavating has generously donated a landscaping package which will include two loads of screened top soil, all the machinery and labour for four hours – a $1,500 landscaping package. Also up for bids is the Copper Point package which includes two-nights accommodation at Copper Point Resort, two 18-holes at Copper Point Golf, and two 18-holes at The Ridge. Copper Point Golf has been the Relay’s biggest supporter over the years.

Then the other day, I stopped in to Syndicate Boardshop to see if they wanted to donate something — which they did — and Dave Wolfe was standing there. He asked me if John Wolfe Construction had donated yet, to which my reply was no, I had not asked them.  He took a Lowpro ride snowboard off the wall, charged it to his credit card and handed it to me. This is an Antic Series 58cm board, so if you are in the market for one, you better be there to bid on it. I just love the generosity of this valley, thanks Wolfe.

The list of items on the silent auction is long and extensive, including golf green vouchers, lots of retail items, and a wonderful selection of gift certificates for dinner, treatments, services and shopping. There are also a number of art pieces from local artists up for bid, including ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’ by artists Carney Oudendag and Angelique Gillespie; a plein-air piece mastered by Denise LeMaster created on the deck at Copper Point; and ‘Upon the Shore’ by Robyn Oliver.

And let’s not forget the children’s auction geared towards the little ones. They will have an opportunity to buy a ticket and put it in the draw for the item(s) they want.

And for those of you not comfortable using the Internet, you will be able to make a donation, or register for Relay that evening.  If you already have a team, and have collected money, you can hand it in as well.

Also, anyone wishing to purchase a luminary, can do so at the Kick Off Party. Luminaries are candles that are placed in special bags with the names of cancer survivors and loved ones who have lost their battle with this devastating dis ease. They are set along the Relay track. It is an inspirational and unforgettable experience that motivates everyone to continue the fight.

A special invitation is extended to all cancer survivors in the valley, however you do not have to be a Relay participant or a cancer survivor to attend the Kick Off Party. We invite the entire community to come, visit with friends and help us raise money for a very worthwhile cause.

This year marks the 10th anniversary for Relay in the Columbia Valley and we want to make it the biggest and best to date.

This evening would not be possible without the incredibly generous support of Brian Schaal and his wonderful staff at Copper Point. Year in and year out, this business continues to give back to the community.

Join us at Copper Point Golf next Thursday, April 14 at 6:30 p.m. and enjoy an evening of fundraising, companionship and hors d’oeuvres compliments of The View at Copper Point.