Birch Avenue in 100 Mile House was the place to be for all kinds of community fun on Jan. 9.
The inaugural Cariboo Challenge Family Fun Night saw a ton of visitors and plenty of games and attractions, while raising close to $5,000 for local charities and causes.
A broom ball tournament that saw six teams competing for their favourite charities was one of the main attractions at the event, organized by Cariboo Challenge Jack Gawthorn Memorial Sled Dog Race Society members to kick off the popular annual race event.
Unfortunately, the race was cancelled this year for lack of snow. But its corresponding event on Birch Avenue was still a huge success, says Lucille Armstrong, one of the organizers.
“It was 10 times what I expected,” she says, adding it was a lot of hard work, but it was worth it.
“We worked right up to the minute [it started]. We know where we might have had some shortfalls, so we know what we have to do for next year already.”
100 Mile House Fire Rescue won the broom ball tournament and donated the $2,000 purse to the Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre.
A “Financial Challenge” was another big attraction. RBC won the challenge and donated $500 to both Loaves and Fishes Outreach and 100 Mile House Food Bank.
“We feel like it was a huge success,” Armstrong says. “We worked tirelessly We need volunteers to step up, otherwise it will not be as good [next year].”