233050

Kelowna  

Fundraising effort with a twist

A group of guys who love Kelowna, love beer, love moustaches and love tackling cancer are back this summer, aiming to raise $10,000 for the cause.

“Family Photos Kelowna” is a small group of 30 guys in their 20's, living across western Canada, who typically meet at the end of every November, in Kelowna, for a big cancer tackling event. This year they are taking cancer on in November and at a special end of August event. 

“We have a shared passion to help the community, also a shared hatred for cancer. We pride our selves on being the most unique fundraiser out there,” explains founder Jeff Roberts.

“Instead of your typical middle aged financially well off donaters, we are all young and struggling to make it in the world individuals. We pride ourselves on being one of the only young, fun loving, but community minded fundraisers around.”

Annually the group gets together for a one of a kind photo shoot where all the men dress up in a theme and show off their best Movember stash.

“We hire a photographer to take these silly photos of us all in the theme as a kind of family portrait. We do a really silly photo shoot as a family of brothers.”

To be a part of this photo shoot you have to donate to the cause and spread awareness.

“Last year, for our third annual photo shoot we raised just over $3,600 for prostate cancer research,” says Roberts. “It was 100 per cent personal donations from people in the photos and their friends and family.”

As per tradition, the group will all be back in Kelowna again for a November shoot and fundraiser for the BC Cancer Foundation.

But, special this year, they are also taking part in a new August fundraiser event that has already raised over $8,000 of it's $10,000 goal.

This event is in dedication to one of their 'brothers', Angelo Gaurini's, who celebrating his third year cancer free. As a special nod to Guarini and as a pull for the event, Roberts is shaving his head.

Now, a guy shaving his head is nothing new or seemingly exciting, but Roberts has had long hair since he was 12-years-old and his dreadlocks are currently down to his waist. Added incentive, the person who donates the most gets to be the one to shave his head.

“I have had dreadlocks for nine years now and tomorrow I will be shaving my head, on stage at the Habitat, and it will be the first time I have had short hair since I was 12-years-old."

Everyone in the 'family' is coming for this event as well, and all the brothers are dressing up in a fancy-suit theme. 

This $10,000 summer fundraising campaign will be combined with the money they raise in their annual campaign in November and then both amounts will be delivered by a very large cheque will be presented to the BC Cancer Foundation.

“The funds will go towards a ground-breaking prostate cancer research project at the Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Cancer Centre in Kelowna,” adds Roberts.

The event is taking place this Friday night, Aug. 29, and the Habitat in Kelowna starting at 7:20 p.m. 

On top of the beer specials and event favours, for every $20 donated before 10 p.m. on Friday, a raffle ticket will be handed out with a chance to win several prizes including the grand prize, which is a free all-inclusive week at the Surf Ranch Action Sports Resort in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua. A resort founded by two Kelowna brothers.

If you want to back this band of brothers, learn more about the event or donate visit their website here. Roberts also says everyone is welcome to the 'Family's' Friday night event.

The members of this “Family” all share one common goal: raising as much money as possible to help find a cure for cancer.



More Kelowna News