Local fitness coach brings movie 'A Star is Born' to Castle Theatre to help cancer patients
By Kyra Hoggan
How often do you get to watch a fabulous movie, support an excellent local enterprise AND give to a good cause all at the same time?
You will April 11 at 7 p.m., if you go to see A Star is Born at the Castle Theatre, starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga (to watch the official trailer, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSbzyEJ8X9E ).
Admission is by donation, and proceeds will go to the Canadian Cancer Society to support breast cancer research, as well as to local patients needing help with cancer fallout expenses, such as travel, medication, etc.
Dainah MacLeod, an online health and fitness coach/stay-at-home Mom, said the idea for the fundraiser came to her as sort of a whim when she was attending one of the Castle Theatre’s free movie nights with her family.
“I knew they had put on fundraisers for the food bank and other causes,” she said. “I usually ask people individually for donations, but I was trying to think of what I could do this year that would maybe reach more people.”
She approached the theatre owners and got an enthusiastic response.
“Lowell (Bradley) was really supportive and helpful – he was all over it,” MacLeod said.
MacLeod, a 37-year-old mother of two girls, 3 1/2 and 5 years old, first started fundraising for cancer research before she had children.
“I’m with an organization (Crop for a Cure) started 16 years ago in Nelson, the Fran Cole Memorial Fund,” she said, explaining she wanted to do a scrapbook for her wedding, and this fundraising is a scrapbooking marathon with people donating via pledges. “It’s been one of my favourite events ever since – I strive to bring in at least $1,000 a year.
“Listening to stories about the people it has helped makes me feel really good about myself, and the event is just a lot of fun. It’s good for the soul, and for the body, to give back. And it made me start stepping out of my comfort zone.”
She said the way the money piece works for the movie night is that Castle Theatre gets to earn a bit of money from their concession, and donations will be for admission – funds in which the donour requires a tax receipt will go to the Canadian Cancer Society, and those not attached to a tax receipt will be administered by the memorial fund (in the person of founder Valerie Smith) to any local person requiring a hand with the expenses of coping with cancer, “to help them go just a little bit farther”.
“What’s a win for this event?” MacLeod said, in response to a question. “It cost $150 for the movie, to host this event, and I’m hoping to at least double that. I would be thrilled to walk away with $500 to donate.”
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/649102275545575/
Comments