It started with a group of people who, over a period of five years, met regularly to plan a party. And not just any party they planned the main party on Bowen Island: Bowfest. Nicola Murray had enjoyed the work of the team and came up with an idea to harness the considerable expertise and creative energy of the group and direct it towards a different cause.
"I invited them over in January because I missed getting together after last year's Bowfest," Murray says. "I was asking them to come for dinner but I did have an ulterior motive I suggested that we get together to plan fundraisers."
The idea was to create a community-based foundation with the mandate to organize a yearly event with the aim to raise money for a worthwhile cause. The group chose a name, Bowen Island Gives (BIG), as well as the first cause.
On that evening in January, Murray brought out a photograph of her father, Stan Murray, that shows a good-looking, forty-something-old man against a seascape at sunset. It portraits an active, vibrant person but Murray says that this is part of the past. Ten years ago, her father, then in his 70s, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and the disease has robbed him of his ability to relate to others in a meaningful way. Three and a half years ago, he moved into a permanent care facility, the Louis Brier Home and Hospital.
Murray introduced the members of the group who gathered at her house this week (Barbara Wiltshire, Jennifer Hall, Tim Hausch, Natasha LaRoche and Jeff Kellner) and explained that Kellner's wife Lisa Hollemann, Karen Redmond and Ruben Bee couldn't make the evening meeting but will also be involved.
"We chose Alzheimer's research because the number of people affected is rising. It's something that is going to be touching everyone's life," says Murray who has looked up the statistics on the Alzheimer's society's webpage that claim that more than 70,000 British Columbians live with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. Alzheimer's and dementia affect one in 11 over the age of 65 Canada-wide. In just five years, it is estimated that more than 50 per cent more Canadians and their families could be facing the same fate.
"I selfishly suggested that the money should go to research," Murray says. "My dad is in the final stage and not much can be done. I feel I want to do my part so we can understand what is causing it and what can be done to prevent it."
Murray's proposal was greeted with much enthusiasm. Jennifer Hall recalls, "Stan became our poster boy. We were all excited and asked, 'When is our next meeting?'"
Wiltshire said that the group decided to choose a different cause every year. She added, "We really like having this flexibility."
With the new venture on the horizon, the group resigned from the Bowfest committee and recruited Natasha LaRoche who has a background in fundraising. Since they are just starting up, there is no seed money involved and they approached UBC Hospital Clinic for Alzheimer's and Related Disorders (UBC CARD) and determined that all proceeds will help fund a research study by Dr. Claudia Jacova who works on a computerized cognitive testing program that could potentially be deployed over the Internet to provide long-distance assessment and monitoring patients with memory complaints. The idea resonated with BIG since the test will be especially useful for individual and rural and remote areas.
Hall said that UBC CARD has been very supportive and great to work with.
From determining the cause, the idea to climb a mountain seemed the next logical step.
"The Alzheimer's society holds a fundraiser that involves climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro," Murray said. "Hiking to the top of Mt. Gardner is our local spin-off."
The hike is scheduled for June 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and individuals are asked to pay $50 to participate. For a team of up to four people, it costs $100.
Hall said that this will also draw attention to the fact that Bowen Islanders have that great hike right in their back-yards.
Climbing Mt. Gardner is a welcome opportunity for BIG members to get fit as they plan to lead groups of up to 10 hikers. Wiltshire did the hike last weekend and was happy to report on the details with the help of an iPhone app. She burned about 850 calories, more than she did in a 2 1/5 hour-long tennis game. "From the trailhead to the North summit, it took me 5225 steps and I went about 1.7 kilometres per hour," she said.
Kellner said that BIG members have tried different routes, but, for simplicity's sake, will take the groups from the trailhead at the intersection of Mt. Gardner Road and Hiker's Trail. Hall added that the elevation gain for the hike comes to 719 metres, adding that bus transport will be provided from the school to the trailhead.
Since the group has considerable experience planning a party (they say that they resurrected Bowfest as a community event), a celebration is planned for the evening of the hike. "The after-party will be held at the Legion," Murray said. "We'll have music by Grand National, Tony Dominelli, Brenda Reid, Peter Robinson and Ron Van Dyke." She added that admission to the party is included in the ticket price but attendance is not restricted to hikers. For people who can't (or don't want to) scale Mt. Gardner on June 30, tickets for the Legion party cost $10 and are available at the door. For anyone who is not available to participate in the hike or the party but who want to contribute, there is an option of making a donation.
"Our goal is to raise $10,000," Murray says. "But we also want to make the event fun." And that's only part of it. In the meantime, a group of people is getting together to share a few good meals, glasses of wine and lots of laughs. And they plan an event for a good cause.
For more information, please visit www.bowenislandgives.com.
