It was a rockin’ good time in Lloydminster as the undead came out to party for a good cause.
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I Love Alberta Boobs had its annual fundraiser, Rock for a Cure, on March 28 at the Lloydminster Exhibition’s WLS Convention Centre.
“We’re holding our zombie prom tonight,” said Teri Arnott, vice-president, I Love Alberta Boobs. “This is our major fundraiser for the year. We’ve got two local bands who everybody in town absolutely loves. Our opener tonight is One Cent Melon and then the second band is Blox Buds.”
Prom royalty was crowned to help bring in donations.
“In order to crown the king and queen, we’ll have people put money in jars and whoever’s jar has the most money at the end of the night will be crowned king and queen,” explained Arnott, noting this was the event’s 18th year and serves as the organization’s major annual fundraiser.
“We always like to keep it a spring event. Everybody’s getting to the point where they want to get out of the house,” she said. “We figured we’ll be the first one of the year, get everybody out, get everybody partying for the summer.”
Presales for the event were solid.
“We sold out 80 per cent of our floor,” she said.
When it comes to coming up with the various themes, Arnott says it’s something she works out far in advance.
“By the time I’ve got this one done, I’ve got the next one coming in my head,” she said. “There isn’t a lot to do to dress up in Lloyd to go out at night. So, I thought, why not give us all a night to get loose, get dressed up and have some fun.”
The evening wouldn’t be possible without the support of the Lloydminster community.
“A lot of different organizations have always stepped up to the plate to help us out,” she said. “One of the major ones is Lloyd Motor Club. They provide safe rides home every year. TJ Altman always does our beer. We have a special labelled beer every year.”
I Love Alberta Boobs supports those battling cancer in Lloydminster.
“We are a local charity and make up comfort care packages for people who are staring chemo at the hospital.It’s full of gift cards from local businesses,” she said, noting it hits close to home.
“When my mother got breast cancer, it got really close to home,” she said.
Arnott quickly realized the funds they were collecting were best spent locally, leading to the care packages.
“My next door neighbour had brain cancer,” she said, explaining she saw the neighbour’s power and gas get turned off. “I watched his vehicle get repossessed while he was in the hospital fighting for his life.”
Another source of fundraising for them is bartending work.
“Another thing we do is bartending weddings,” said Arnott. “If anyone out there is looking for a bartender for a wedding this summer, we have some dates available.”
Arnott says they’re a part of the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation and people can donate directly to I Love Alberta Boobs through the health foundation’s website or their own website at Ilovealbertaboobs.ca
“If you go to their webpage, there’s a little drop down and you’ll find us there,” she said.
When it comes to next year, the message was clear.
“We’re not going anywhere. Cancer didn’t go anywhere, so we’re not going anywhere, either,” she said, explaining it wouldn’t be possible without the rest of the I Love Alberta Boobs team, president Brandy Schwenk and executive board members Sorrell Elliot and Wendy Othen.
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