By Cecilia Nasmith
Lindsey Edwards appeared at Cobourg council Monday to thank the town for its help in last year's Summer Social 4 Shelter fundraisers at the beach and to report on the results.
When combined with all the other fundraisers she organized, Edwards said, she raised $37,500 on the Royal LePage Sahara Desert Challenge - $17,500 for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation (a national foundation supported by the real-estate company that administers programs, grants and educational programs to prevent domestic violence) and $30,000 for the Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre that serves Northumberland women and children.
In all, the 120 participants in the challenge raised $1.3-million, 80% of which went back to local programs from their own communities.
Each trekker was responsible for his or her own costs to get to the Sahara, and was required to raise $5,000 for the cause. Edwards set a goal of $10,000 and – as each fundraiser succeeded spectacularly – kept raising it. That list includes the pink-flamingo-themed Flocked 4 Shelter as well as a Shelter 2 Shelter Walk, Lip Sync 4 Shelter, Pints 4 Shelter and a T-shirt fundraiser.
As for the actual Sahara Desert Challenge, she said, “It was a pretty incredible experience – five days of walking and camping and all the things I really don't love, but loved to do in that moment because I knew it was for a really great cause and I was surrounded by some pretty amazing people in my group.”
Once the town granted permission for the use of the beach location for her fundraiser last year, Edwards said, she set up Summer Socials on four nights – a weekend in July and one in August – whose proceeds made up $12,000 of her total.
Admission was by donation, and the food and beverages were supplied by three local businesses – Market & Smor, George & Orange, and El Camino. The beer came from local sources, William Street and Northumberland Hills breweries. Local musicians provided the entertainment, featuring John Holst, Carl Cotton & Nya Livia, Jeff Biggar & Kyle Tapscott, and Northern Hearts.
“Four nights of pretty amazing stuff,” she said.
Of all the fundraising projects the 120 challenge participants organized, she noted, this was the second-most-successful of them all in terms of money raised.
And Edwards raised the most money overall of any Ontario participant, beat out nationally only by one Winnipeg walker who raised $1,000 more than she.
Going forward, Edwards asked council if these Summer Socials can continue in support of Cornerstone.
“It was so well received, so many people absolutely loved being there,” she said.
“I can only imagine it will get better and better each year.”
“I did manage to get down there, and it was a lovely event,” Deputy Mayor Suzanne Seguin said.
“Such an impressive campaign to pull together,” Councillor Emily Chorley agreed.
Mayor John Henderson congratulated Edwards not only on her achievement but on the trip of a lifetime.
“Like winning the lottery,” he said.
“It's amazing, and I am a little envious,” Councillor Brian Darling stated.
Chorley's motion to accept Edwards's presentation included an endorsement in principle of the continuation of Summer Socials 4 Shelter in 2020, pending appropriate approvals and availability of the venue.
