The annual event is back and promises to be a fun filled afternoon! The Odd Fellow Poker Invitational Fundraiser brings 75-90 players each year for an opportunity to show off their skills while raising money for an organization or family in need. In partnership with our friends from the Irish Times (a member of Victoria Pub Co.), this is a fun and full day of mixing the local business community together and making new friends.
The big tournament prize? Bragging rights that you helped such a great cause…and that you beat everyone else.
Over the past several years, we’ve raised more than $100,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of Victoria and last year were able to collect $16,000 to help a local family during a difficult time.
This year Columbia Lodge #2 is joining forces with Bastion Lodge #4 and we have chosen the BC Childhood Cancer Parent’s Association (BCCCPA) Island Family Support Group as the benefactor. The British Columbia Childhood Cancer Parents Association is a registered non-profit charitable society whose mission is to help families who have children with cancer and who are struggling financially by providing them with aid through the Family Financial Aid Program.
http://bcccpa.org/island-anchors/
Each year in BC approximately 150 children are diagnosed with a life-threatening cancer and 350 are on treatment at any given time. Many childhood cancers are being cured, yet we still lose many children. Despite the extreme adversity of facing an uncertain future and often an uncomfortable and debilitating therapy, these children are an inspiration of hope and courage. They bring smiles to peoples’ faces and beauty into the world.
The event also includes a silent auction to raise additional funds for the Odd Fellow and Rebekah Extended Care Hospital fund.