Next week, Red Deerians could find themselves with a red toilet in their office or home thanks to a fundraiser for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
‘Game of Thrones’ will take place in Red Deer on April 1st and 2nd. The event will see 10 teams going around the City on April 1st pranking individuals by delivering a brightly decorated toilet to their home or office. By donation the toilet will be removed – any donations of $100 or more will enter participants into a draw for two playing positions at the earls MS Golf Classic in September at the Golf and Country Club. The person who was pranked can then prank someone of their choosing and the teams will collect donations along the way. Once an individual has made a donation, they get an ‘immunity card’ which ensures they can’t get hit again.
The teams will be competing with each other to see who can raise the most money and there will also be prizes for the ‘best dressed’ toilet as well.
Bre Fitzpatrick and Amanda Hadland, are two of the organizers for the event and they are excited that it will be bigger this year.
Last year a similar fundraiser was held entitled ‘Flush MS’. “We thought this was a unique way of doing it that we hoped would be really fun for people as well,” said Fitzpatrick. “Me delivering a toilet and asking for a donation versus me just asking for a donation is a different spectrum – it would make you smile.”
The second part of the fundraiser will take place April 2nd at Bo’s Bar & Grill. Anyone is welcome to attend with tickets being sold for $20. Tickets will be available at the door. Festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. and will include a 50/50 draw, a silent auction, the judging of the ‘best dressed’ toilets and appetizers as well.
Silent auction items include tickets to the sold out AC/DC concert, iPads and helicopter rides, among many others.
“We wanted to think of something that would reach further out in the community and to tell people what MS is and really just getting our fingers out there and letting people play too,” said Fitzpatrick, who was diagnosed with MS in 2010.
Last year $8,000 was raised at the first event. This year, Fitzpatrick and Hadland have set their sights on raising $60,000.
Fitzpatrick and Hadland are raising funds with their team for the two-day Johnson MS Bike Tour in August. All proceeds will go to the MS Society.
According to the MS Society, multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system which is composed of the brain and spinal cord. The disease attacks the myelin which is a covering wrapped around the nerves of the central nervous system.
There are about 14,000 persons affected by MS in Alberta.
For more information regarding the fundraiser, check out ‘Game of Thrones MS Plunge’ on facebook. Participants in the event are encouraged to post photos using the hash tag #GOTFlushMS on social media.
efawcett@reddeerexpress.com
