Pumpkin festival helps achieve wishes
Annual event supports Children’s Wish Foundation
Green Haven Garden Centre opened up the gates Saturday afternoon to welcome families to the grounds for its 29th annual Giant Pumpkin Festival and Auction in support of the Lethbridge and area Children’s Wish Foundation.
The event is the major fundraiser for Children’s Wish Foundation in the area which helps to grant wishes to children who are facing lifethreatening illnesses.
Each wish costs an average of $10,000 and this year’s goal was to fulfil three children’s dreams.
“They grant wishes for those who are in life-threatening illnesses or illnesses that affect the quality of life and they do not turn away any wishes, so those are the kids that we are fundraising for,” says Shannon Elves, committee festival organizer. “We do seek sponsorship to help out, but all of the activities, silent auction, pie sales, food sales, they all go straight to the foundation to help those kids.”
One of the children on this year’s list is a 10-year-old boy named Jaxon who was born premature and developed cerebral palsy. Jaxon is nonverbal so he uses speaking devices to communicate with the people around him. His wish is to take his family to Disney World where dreams come true and he can smile and just be a kid with his family.
Throughout the day, families were able to take in the fun activities including the giant pumpkin competition, silent auction, petting zoo, horse-drawn wagon rides, Astro Jumps, games and lots of food.
“The pumpkin-growing contest, we hand out the seeds early in the year in March for free and then people just take them home and grow these incredibly massive pumpkins,” says Karen Barby, committee garden centre organizer. “Last year was a phenomenal year, but this year whatever we get we are thankful for, we will accept anything and all of the donation money stays with Children’s Wish in southern Alberta.”
The Children’s Wish Foundation helps children see the good in the world along with having an experience they have always wanted to help them through their difficult illness. In 2016, Children’s Wish donated more than $12.6 million for children’s wishes. Unlike other foundations, Children’s Wish doesn’t disperse or donate its revenue to other charities.
For more information on the organization and how you can donate, visit www.childrenswish.ca.
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