Ann Joseph was happy to announce her family reached and surpassed their year’s fundraising goal for Balding for Dollars last week.
“We did it!” said Joseph.
Joseph is the proud grandmother of Trey Prince, who wanted to start fundraising to do something to help other families with sick kids after his brother Sam Prince passed away from cancer at five years old.
So last year, Trey and his family began raising money for Balding for Dollars, a charity helping promote awareness and support cancer programs in the Vancouver Children’s Hospital.
After getting underway and a successful start, in July Trey said he’d like to set $10,000 as their goal to fundraise for the organization, and after a whole lot of hard work, they have passed this goal and continue to raise funds they will be delivering in person in Vancouver on May 12.
The family collected bottles, pennies, which was a lot of what Joseph said was “hard, dirty work,” but they stuck with it and also raised money at special events. They held a New Year’s dance and Nak’albun Elementary hosted a spaghetti dinner fundraiser as well, the dinner raised over $1,000 and Nak’albun even raised the final $150 dollars to put the total up to the $10,000 goal.
They also held loony auctions and received donations at potlatches throughout the year.
The current fundraising total for the family is at $11, 361.19, but they are still collecting bottles and pennies up until they leave for Vancouver.
Trey, Joseph and Trey’s mom Billy Jean and Trey’s new little brother Jagger will likely all be traveling down to deliver the cheque.
Anyone wanting to donate can have bottles or pennies picked up by calling Ann Joseph at 996-8383 or can drop them in her carport at 232 Mountain View Drive on the Nak’azdli Reserve.
The family hopes to fundraise again next year, but may give the money to either Canuck’s Place, where Sam actually spent his last days, or Ronald MacDonald House, depending on what they decide.
“It’s just going to be an ongoing thing,” said Joseph.