For the first time the Village of Big Valley organized a campaign to raise awareness and fundraise for breast cancer through Wild Pink Yonder on Saturday evening, Aug. 7.
"This is the first year Big Valley has participated in the contest," said main organizer Sandra Schell.
Big Valley is one of the 23 communities in the competition and raised roughly $700.
Fundraising by various community groups and individuals will be ongoing until the end of September.
"These funds will go to the Cancer Research Institute of Northern Alberta (CRINA) and be used to help fund breast cancer research," added Schell. "When the village was approached to join the contest, it was impossible not to get caught up in the infectious high spirits of the creator and event organizer Jane Hurl."
Schell said that it was such a fun way to increase community spirit and raise funds for an excellent cause.
"The winning community will get to have a free music concert, a road sign proclaiming them as the winner of the contest and of course, bragging rights," said Schell. "The friendly competition between the participating communities helps to bring everyone together for a common goal."
According to Schell, the real heroes in this event are all those affected by breast cancer.
"Including those we've lost, the survivors, their families and their friends," Schell noted. "We may occasionally make light of the topic during the preparation for Aug. 25, but this is a very serious and deadly disease."
Schell added that they were happy that they were of help to raise awareness and funds for such a great cause.