A Sylvan Lake man and his daughter proudly donned the brightest, pinkest clothing they could find as they roamed the streets of Calgary in support of below-the-waist cancers on Sunday.
Cameron and Chelsea Beach raised $4,850 and $5,080, respectively, through their participation in the Alberta Cancer Foundation’s Underwear Affair, in which participants chose to complete either a 5km walk or a 10km run.
Both Cameron and Chelsea did the walk, which they completed in just under 50 minutes.
It was a fitting way to honour Cameron’s father, who died two years ago from bladder cancer.
For both, it was the first time participating in the walk. And it likely won’t be the last.
“I was really surprised how much fun it was,” said Cameron. “I think we’ll do it again for sure.”
The eighth annual Underwear Affair raised more than $500,000 for Alberta Cancer Foundation. That came from more than 800 people who either ran, walked or participated in the event in another way.
Cameron and Chelsea smashed their fundraising goal; at the beginning of their campaign, they each hoped to raise $300.
They had plenty of support from friends, family, neighbours and businesses.
“I was quite shocked at how much people donated,” said Cameron. “I asked some people if they’d donate, and some were throwing $1,000 at me. I was thinking $50 or $25. It was very cool.”
Chelsea and Cameron placed third and fourth, respectively, on the list of this year’s top fundraisers.
Throughout its existence, the Underwear Affair has raised nearly $6 million for Alberta Cancer Foundation.
That money goes to a crucial cause, according to Alberta Cancer Foundation CEO Myka Osinchuk.
“The over half a million dollars raised will allow the Alberta Cancer Foundation to boldly invest in things that matter most to patients and their families Ñ faster diagnoses, better treatments, and enhanced quality of life and improved outcomes,” she said in a media release.
The 9th annual Underwear Affair will take place June 6, 2015. Registration is already open online at www.uncoverthecure.org