With gems like a bike ride with Jack Knox, tickets to the Nutcracker and a load of horse manure (seriously), it’s no surprise that the Times Colonist’s Go Bid auction raised more than $1,100 for my Tour de Rock fundraising campaign.
One of the biggest bids was for the six personal training sessions with Chris Hinton from the Pacific Institute of Sport Excellence, who helped Times Colonist reporter Cindy E. Harnett lose 30 pounds. Thanks so much to Hinton, pictured, for donating his time for the workout package which is worth $420.
Sorry ladies, the bike ride and lunch with Jack Knox was scooped up by Old Spaghetti Factory owner Mike Gonzalez. Although it’s not for him, he’s donated that prize to a former employee of his, Stacey Olynyk, who also happens to be a cancer survivor in her mid-20s. Stacey was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2011 only to have her twin sister diagnosed with the same cancer a year and a half later.
Thanks also to Dance Victoria for donating two tickets to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s production of the Nutcracker in December which has a $178 value.
The auction all came together thanks to my Times Colonist colleagues who got creative in offering up some behind-the-scenes perks such as a tour of the legislature with legendary political columnist Les Leyne, tickets to a JazzFest show with arts reporter Adrian Chamberlain, the expertise of car guy Pedro Arrais to help you buy your car and yes, even a pile of manure for your garden transported and shoveled right to your door by reporters Carla Wilson and Richard Watts. We must truly be the Garden City because that generated more bids than I expected!
This auction is the first of many fundraisers I’ll be planning this summer to try and raise as much money as possible for the Canadian Cancer Society through the Tour de Rock. Stay tuned for more and thanks for the ongoing support!
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Katie DeRosa is one of the media riders for this year’s Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock, a 13-day bike ride from Port Alice to Victoria. Follow DeRosa's blog for details about the ongoing training, leading up to full coverage of the ride Sept. 20 to Oct. 3. To donate to her fundraising campaign, click here.
