New Glasgow mayor receives gift from Jeana’s Girls
New Glasgow Mayor Nancy Dicks was given a gift Saturday morning that she will have to pay to get rid of.
Jeana’s Girls placed a bright pink toilet, decorated with flowers and ribbons, on her front lawn as part of their ongoing fundraising efforts for the upcoming Relay for Life.
“We are going to try and do it until the relay. We have one (toilet) in Pictou and one in New Glasgow now,” said group
participant Nina Davey. “We will put it on your yard and you have to pay $10 for it to come off your yard, $20 to give it to a friend or $30 to be taken away permanently.”
She said the idea came to the girls from an Internet post, but she is sure it is one project her best friend Jeana would approve.
“She would think it’s awesome. She is very competitive,” Davey said.
About 14 girls came together for the Relay for Life event in New Glasgow in June 2016 to honour their young friend Jeana English, who had recently died of cancer. Jeana’s Girls raised
more than $18,000 and were named top fundraising group in the province.
This year, Jeana’s Girls has grown in numbers and its fundraising efforts have also evolved. The group recently held a scarf sale, which those involved believe will generate $1,500 for this year’s relay. A teen dance is also planned for April 29 at the Pictou Youth Centre. A barbecue, book and yard sale are being planned for May and, of course, they hope to have a few more toilet deliveries in the future.
The group’s efforts are not going unnoticed by the community. Jeana’s Girls have been asked to speak at two volunteer events in the future in hopes of encouraging others to give back to their community.
Sarah Hidgon, who is one of the newest members of Jeana’s Girls, said she knew she wanted to be involved after attending the Relay for Life in New Glasgow last year and seeing the good work her friends were doing.
“I am really good friends with Nina and I wanted to help her out,” she said.
Teams can register at this time for the relay, which will take place on Saturday, June 3, with the theme Canadian Music through the Decades in recognition of Canada’s 150th birthday. It will take place from 6 p.m. to midnight at Glasgow Square.
Money raised during Relay for Life goes to support those fighting cancer and toward research. Some of the money has been used in the past for the Lodge that Gives in Halifax, which provides accommodations for people getting cancer treatment from outside the Halifax area. Pictou County residents are among the highest users of the lodge. Another place that benefits is Camp Goodtime for campers between the ages of 7 and 16, living with or beyond cancer.
Last year, Pictou County Relay for Life raised $60,000.
Donations can be made to Jeana’s Girls or any of the participants on the Relay for Life webpage at www.relayforlife.ca.