Hundreds of people filled tables and emptied their wallets at Thursday’s major annual RCMP fundraiser supper for the Canadian Cancer Society.
Despite the rain, Sechelt’s Holy Family Catholic Church Hall was packed for the 20th annual Red Serge Gala, which typically brings in thousands of dollars for Cops for Cancer Tour de Coast. Serge is the name for the twill fabric used for RCMP uniforms.
RCMP staff and first responders will be cycling through Metro Vancouver, the North Shore, the Sunshine Coast and Sea-to-Sky Corridor – 800 kilometres from start to finish – in mid-September for the annual tour. The riders are expected to be on the Sunshine Coast Sept. 18.
Before the tour, which is organized by the Canadian Cancer Society, participating cyclists and first responder detachments raise money to fund research for childhood cancer and support families. The overall goal this year is $625,000, of which more than 75 per cent has already been raised.
In attendance at the Sept. 12 evening gala were several tour alumni, who biked through the rain on Thursday to the Sunshine Coast from detachments on the Lower Mainland, and returned via bike the next day. At the gala, they were put to work serving dishes prepared by local chefs and restaurants. Money was also raised through a silent auction.
Sunshine Coast RCMP Staff Sgt. Poppy Hallam, who was one of the event’s MCs, recognized the predominantly female crowd’s generosity. She also referenced the organizational difficulties this year – the RCMP had been on a search for co-chairs to organize the event, which is one of the largest fundraisers of the tour. Last year, for example, the gala brought in approximately $60,000.
This year’s Sunshine Coast participants, constables Dustin Shevchenko and Chris Mager, have raised about $20,700 between them – and that was before the Red Serge Gala. A final fundraising tally for the gala is expected in the coming days.
See more photos from the event in our online galleries at www.coastreporter.net/photos-videos
