Donations are still coming in, but the initial fundraising total for the fifth annual Climb for Cancer is sitting at $38,000, surpassing the $35,000 goal set when the Climb was re-imagined after being postponed due to COVID-19. This money will assist the Kordyban Lodge with covering the estimated $1 million in operating expenses it incurs every year, helping ensure staff can continue to provide an affordable home-away-from-home for cancer patients from central and northern British Columbia who travel to Prince George for treatment.
Over 300 climbers from Prince George and from Fraser Lake to Horsefly picked a time to climb on August 8, 9, 15, or 16 and each had 20 minutes to make it up and down the cutbanks overlooking the Nechako River as many times as they chose. Team Honeyberries was the top fundraiser and has been awarded the Kordyban Cup. The Unicorns and Hope, Sweat, & Tears were close behind and rounded out the second and third fundraising spots.
“The planning committee is thrilled with the number of participants and the continued support of our sponsors, which enabled the Climb for Cancer to go ahead under very trying circumstances,” said Doug Bell, planning committee chair. “We are blown away by the amount of money raised and are so grateful to all of our sponsors, participants, and volunteers for their amazing support.”
The Climb for Cancer was originally scheduled to be held over one day in April, but was rescheduled to occur over four days in August, with each team being assigned a 20-minute time slot for their climb to ensure physical distancing measures could be followed. A legacy of the 2020 Climb for Cancer is that permanent signage has been installed on the cutbanks with approval from the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George. This will help boost participation levels in years to come by keeping the Climb for Cancer at the forefront of people’s minds year-round.
Participants, volunteers, and sponsors including the title sponsor of four years, Carrier Lumber, are integral to ensuring the success of the Climb for Cancer, which is the main annual fundraising event for the Kordyban Lodge. Donations are accepted year-round and can be made to the 2020 Climb for Cancer at www.climbforcancerpg.ca until the end of September. Any donations made after September 30, 2020 will go toward the fundraising total for the 2021 Climb for Cancer.
A phenomenal $210,000 and counting has been raised by participants and sponsors since this event began in 2015. Every dollar helps the Kordyban Lodge to continue providing compassionate, safe, and affordable care to the more than 800 guests it serves every year.