July 2014

Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride: Feel good – do good – look good

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Registration is open for the 2014 Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride, and this year, participants will have the opportunity to buy an exclusive ride jersey.

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The ride will take place on Sunday, August 17 at Marina Park in Comox. There is a route for cyclists of all abilities including 25km, 50km, 100km or a 5km family ride.

“We are so thankful for all the support that the community provides YANA, the ride is yet another example of how supportive the Comox Valley is of our local families in need,” says Marcie Dumais, Executive Director of YANA.

YANA helped 112 local families in 2013, funded 290 medical trips, provided over $75,000 in financial assistance and offered homes away from home in Nanaimo, Victoria and Vancouver. Patti Fletcher, co-owner of Simon’s Cycles shares, “Last year’s ride raised $28,000, this year, we have a specific goal, we’d like to cover five months of accommodation expenses for families, to do it we’ll need to raise $32,000.”

Dumais continues “We have been working with Simon’s Cycles to repeat the success of last year’s event.”

“Yes, but we wanted to introduce some new elements, too” adds Fletcher. “This year we are excited to offer a YANA Ride custom designed jersey for registered participants. This is not only a great compliment to your active wear, but a fun functional memory piece to a Ride Day that you’ll never forget.”

Simon’s are working with Michael Johnson of Good Thinking Design to deliver the jersey. The $75 jersey is exclusively available to participants who register for the Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride before Sunday July 6th. To ensure a good fit, visit Simon’s Cycles on Comox Avenue and try one on for size.

Click here for more details, to register, volunteer or to buy a bike jersey.

Island Charity Wrestling… Tough Guys With Big Hearts

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ocean misc 032Island Charity Wrestling is coming back to the Valley to put on another great family charity show on Sunday, July 20. Since it’s all for and about the kids, all profits again this year are going to support You Are Not Alone (YANA).

Since 2009, the ICW group of local retail workers and weekend warriors have put on entertaining, low-cost family wrestling shows for local charities. All money raised beyond covering the cost of hall rental goes directly to YANA.

ICW is a mix of touring pro wrestlers and local beginners and trainees who give their all in the ring in the spirit of community service. The pros always put on great matches and the trainees make up for inexperience with larger-than-life good and evil characters everyone can boo or cheer. ICW has a loyal following, most of which are children.

In addition to 90 minutes of action, there will be prize draws, concession, and plenty of opportunities for children and parents alike to meet and get photos with the wrestlers in and out of character.

The theme of this upcoming show is “Night of Champions” and is the only event of the year in which all four championships are on the line. There are matches for every taste, and in addition to four title bouts, there will be singles and grudge matches to fill out the card.

For the ICW championship: “Dangerous” Doug Beattie vs. Splash Campbell. DDB’s used every possible dirty trick to retain his title, including constant interference by The Chain Gang mates Acadian Assassin and A-Train. Prior to the Comox show last August, The Chain Gang beat down Splash Campbell at home, shown to the crowd, keeping him from challenging for the title. Is he physically ready to compete, or will The Chain Gang’s cheating again overcome the giant challenger?

Vancouver Island Hardcore Championship “Fans Bring the Weapons” match: Stan “The Lumberjack” Boyd vs. Acadian Assassin. Acadian Assassin is evil and vicious, and is now into his third reign as champion, including one reign that lasted nearly four years.

No disqualifications, pinfalls count anywhere, and the last Comox show in August saw the re-introduction of the 24/7 rule, meaning the champ can be challenged anytime, anywhere, by anyone who brings a sanctioned referee. This rule led to a crazy match in Comox last time that had three title changes before the dust settled and Acadian Assassin left with the title his name has become synonymous with. He’s managed to hold onto it since then, but anything can and will happen in Comox.

For the ICW Vancouver Island Tag Team championship: Some of the Island’s best pros will be battling for the gold in this match as the team of “The Horror Show” Matt Havik and Slade, defend against “Super Tremendous Dudes” Krofton and Comox Valley’s own Barry Goode. The Horror Show overcame steep odds to end The Chain Gang’s three-year reign as tag team champions, but they’ve yet to defend their titles against a team with the flair and experience of STD.

The Vancouver Island Charity championship will also be on the line in an invitational, over-the-top-rope battle royale.

Others scheduled to appear include: “Big” Willy Johnson, suspended Bruins’ enforcer Ron “The Hammer” Domi, A-Train, The Bumbling B, Major America, El Taco Grande, and more.

Also appearing is Goat FM’s “Rock Dawg” Andrew Davis as the celebrity ring announcer and MC, as well as newly-hired ICW commissioner, Courtenay city councillor Manno Theos, who promises to bring some justice and order to his new position at the helm of ICW.

All seats are available for only a minimum $5 donation, making ICW low-cost family entertainment that anyone can see, and also helping local charity. It will be held at the K’omoks First Nation gym next to the I-Hos Gallery, at 3320 Comox Rd. in Courtenay. Doors open at 7 p.m. and bell time shortly after. Seating is limited so ticket pre-purchase is recommended, however unsold tickets will be available at the door.

In addition to continued support from The Real Canadian Superstore, this year ICW has teamed up with a great local sponsor, Aliens vs. Pizza. In addition to being ICW’s official ticket outlet at their restaurant at 542 Comox Rd., Courtenay (near Lewis Park), they have also pledged to donate 20 per cent of the sales of their feature “Planet X” pizza to add to ICW’s donation, so what better time to try out a great new pizza and help local charity at the same time?

Tickets are also available from any participant, or by phoning 250-792-3332. Donations are very much appreciated, so even if you are not sure you can make it to the show, or are not a fan of wrestling but like to help out, consider buying a ticket anyway to show your support.

– Island Charity Wrestling

The “Tween” group from the Comox Valley Child Development Association did some fundraising and donated part of their proceeds to YANA. Many thanks to this group for thinking of YANA in their fundraising efforts.

A shout out to a terrific trio! Thank you Darlene, Lesley and Judy for keeping the office running smoothly and for adding warmth and humor to the office atmosphere.

Three enterprising young girls, called the Three Kidpreneurs, made crafts and sold them at the Comox Mall. Thank you Sarah, Carly and Anna for donating part of your sales to help other kids when their families really need it.

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Thank you to all the volunteers who are working hard to make the 2014 Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride even bigger and better than last year. We appreciate your love of riding and your love of YANA!

Judy & Bruce Wing presented Annie Handley at their 1st Tuesday Fundraiser. Annie chose YANA as the recipient of donations at the door. We appreciate all the effort that Judy and Bruce put into these fundraising events and are thankful for the fabulous musicians who share their talent.

Thank you to our volunteer board of directors who are behind the scenes making good things happen every month. Your commitment is much appreciated!

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Thanks to the XI Alpha Epsilon chapter of Beta Sigma Phi for their donation in June to help us keep families together when a child has to leave the valley for medical treatment.

A shout out to Three Sisters One Bead who made these adorable pendant necklaces and offered them as gifts to a few of our most courageous clients.

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