Flowers brought hope in long cancer battle
A cancer survivor applauds a campaign that sees a group of Vancouver Island grocery stores selling colourful potted plants to fund the B.C. Cancer Foundation’s new Integrated Care and Research Pavilion, March 1 to 21.
Adele Cave, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2018, attributes part of her journey back to health to spending time in her rose garden.
“My garden brought me hope and joy,” said Cave, who is a photographer. “It gave me something to focus on when I was very, very sick.”
After 13 months of treatment, which included two surgeries, followed by four months of chemotherapy, she is now cancer-free.
To raise funds for the new facility, a group of independent Vancouver Island grocery stores has signed on for the foundation’s Grocers Go Beyond Campaign. Fairway Market, Country Grocer, Thrifty Foods, Red Barn Market and Tru Value Foods will join forces to offer four-inch potted gerbera daisies, cyclamen, violet or begonia plants to their customers, donating $2.65 for every plant sold.
Cave knows first-hand the power of a flower and is happy to hear that the campaign will indirectly fund a healing garden at the new facility, located across the street from the Royal Jubilee Hospital.
The 11,000 square foot building will also house many of B.C. Cancer – Victoria’s supportive care services. Programs include patient and family counselling, nutrition and hereditary counselling.
• For more information, go to donate.bccancer foundation.com/site/SPageNavigator/grocers.html
Hike for Hospice raises funds — and spirits
Registration is now open for Hike for Hospice, a fundraising walk to raise funds for compassionate end-of-life care and bereavement support at Victoria Hospice, which will take place at Clover Point Park, Sunday, May 5.
The 3.5-kilometre family-friendly walk takes participants along the waterfront and the scenic streets of Fairfield.
Supporters can walk individually, put together a team or challenge colleagues.
You can bring along a four-legged friend to win the Best Dressed Dog award, or walk in your neighbourhood, on the grounds of your retirement home or school with the Hike on Your Site option.
“We talk about the good times, and it gives us a chance to remember,” said longtime participant Annette Quan. “It’s a great opportunity for anyone who is missing someone you love to go out there and be with people who know how you feel — to be with others and to be there for others.”
You can register online to create a personalized fundraising page. The idea is to set your goal and then spread the word to family and friends to garner their support.
Check-in and entertainment starts at 9 a.m., opening ceremonies are at 9:45 and the walk begins at 10 a.m. May 5 at Clover Point Park, 1250 Dallas Rd.
• For more information, or to register, go to victoriahospice.org/event/hike-for-hospice-2024.
Dine in style with Grandmothers for Africa
Attend a fundraising dinner and unveiling of the 20th Anniversary Solidarity Quilt of the Stephen Lewis Foundation at the Grandmothers for Africa’s African Dinner at the Da Vinci Centre, April 20.
Victoria Grandmothers for Africa is a group of more than 100 women who care for each other, as well as supporting counterparts who are caring for children whose parents have died as a result of the HIV and AIDS pandemic in Africa.
Funds will go toward developing caring and holistic solutions for the African grandmothers in sub-Saharan Africa, one community at a time.
Award-winning chef Castro Boateng is cooking at this year’s event, with a guest speaker who has lived and worked in African communities impacted by AIDS.
Guests will see, for the first time, the 20th Anniversary Solidarity Quilt, which depicts a grandmother tree, arms outstretched in a demonstration of her competence and leadership, with roots running deep into the heart of her community. Beneath her canopy are seedlings, symbolizing the children she has cared for throughout her life.
Tickets are $80. The dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. April 20 at the Da Vinci Centre, 195 Bay St. For tickets, email [email protected].
• For more information, go to vg4a.ca.
Classic boat festival seeks artists and musicians
Time is running out for applications from visual artists, musicians and performers to take part in the Maritime Museum of British Columbia’s upcoming Classic Boat Festival, Aug. 30 to Sept. 1.
The museum is accepting applications for both its music and Artists Aboard programs for the 45th annual festival.
“We are looking for emerging artists who work with maritime or heritage boat themes to be our first cohort of Artists Aboard,” said Anya Zanko, events and development manager for the museum.
Selected visual artists will receive a $200 honorarium. Selected artists will have access to unique and exclusive vantage points: on the docks; aboard the SV Dorothy, a 1897 classic boat, and aboard another classic vessel for the Sunday Sail Past.
Successful artists will be included in the Artists’ Showcase on Sunday, Oct. 20, a full day of display in the museum’s gallery with works produced for the festival and other related work.
A $200 honorarium is offered to each individual or group under the musical program. While all types and styles of music are welcome, the event is looking for performers who have a stated interest in or connection to heritage boats and/or maritime culture.
Performance times are two hours in length, with performers supplying their own instruments and sound amplification equipment (if applicable).
Although both programs are open to all ages, artists and performers 18 years and under must have a guardian sign for them. Applicants must be residing in Canada.
Deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m., March 11. Successful artists and performers will be announced by April 15.
• For more information on the Artists Aboard program, go to mmbc.bc.ca/artists-aboard-2024.
• For more information on the music program, go to mmbc.bc.ca/music-program-2024
Reynolds robotics team qualifies for championships
For the second consecutive year, the Reynolds Reybots, a group of Grade 8 to 12 students who belong to the Reynolds Secondary School robotics club, have qualified for the FIRST World Championships after winning in the FIRST Robotics Canadian Regional Competition, held in Surrey, Feb. 24 to 25.
They were one of four local teams who had competed in the annual competition, where teams have six weeks to design and build a robot that can perform a particular function.
The Guild of Builders, a community team, the Esquimalt Atom Smashers, from Esquimalt High School, and TURBO, an all-girls team from St. Margaret’s School, were the other teams representing Victoria at the regional competition.
The Reybots will next face 29 international robotics teams at the FIRST Robotics Championship, held in Houston, Texas, April 17 to 20.
Established in 2001, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a registered charity whose mission is to inspire students to pursue careers in science, technology and engineering.
