The fifth annual Zeal for Teal on April 27 at the Drayton Arena, promises to be the best yet. With a whimsical Alice in Wonderland theme, this year’s ovarian cancer fundraiser will showcase a “hoity-toity” tea party with attitude. Participants are being encouraged to dress in costume in preparation for a fashion show.
Zeal for Teal, a surprise-filled day of scrapbooking and crafting for the cause, continues to grow in popularity with local attendees joining participants from as far away as Woodstock, Hanover and Burlington.
As indicated on the Ovarian Cancer Canada website http://www.ovariancanada.org, ovarian cancer is the most serious of all gynecological cancers. Over 2,600 Canadian women are diagnosed every year; and every year 1,750 women succumb to this disease. Symptoms are varied, vague and easily missed. There is no screening test to detect it. But when found early, and treated, ovarian cancer survival rate is 90 per cent.
Zeal for Teal aims to help educate women about the silent symptoms of ovarian cancer. This special day also is an important way for the Sunflower Seeds Team to help raise funds for the annual Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope in Barrie.
Participants attend Zeal for Teal for many different reasons. Jan Moxey travels from Burlington each year Her mother was misdiagnosed and died from Ovarian Cancer in 2008 so it is important for her to support events like Zeal for Teal that help raise awareness about the insidiousness of ovarian cancer.
“Since her passing,” says Moxey, “I have looked for different ways to donate to the cause.” She saw Zeal for Teal advertised on the Ovarian Cancer Canada website and it brought her to her first event four years ago. Moxey loves the way the organizers and community are so welcoming.
“I anticipate it every year not only because it is a way to honour my mother but I love the event.”
Moxey always brings along a car full of friends to help her through the day. “They put on a fabulous day of scrapbooking, prizes, and real homemade country cooking which the city girls who come with me, appreciate.”
Local business have been supportive with donations of door prizes, silent auction and penny table items, food, beverages, flowers, decorations and more. As a way of giving back to the community, the Zeal for Teal committee decided to ask participants to bring along items for the local food bank.
Also, there is an ongoing Zeal for Teal Penny Appeal happening around town and across the nation. Zeal for Teal friend, and editor of Maranatha News of Toronto, Johanne Robertson, came up with the idea that people across Canada should be encouraged to save their pennies and donate them to the Sunflower Seeds team. Robertson used her influence and has inspired people from Toronto to Vancouver to start saving. Donation jars can be found, locally, in Drayton Foodmarket and at The Family Clothesline downtown.
For the past three years, the Arthur and Drayton branches of the Royal Bank have participated in Teal Fridays. Zeal for Teal committee members are very thankful for the ongoing enthusiasm and desire of staff to help raise awareness by wearing teal and donating to the cause.
The popular silent auction offers some great prizes once again this year. The overflowing penny table won’t be an easy task as participants decide which item would be the right choice. The challenging stage game guarantees a prize to those who might be patient enough to withstand the pressure and Ye Olde Tea Shoppe will be brimming with baked goods, delicacies, jewelry, books and more to delight everyone. Scrapbooking kits are available for purchase onsite or through the blog. All proceeds go towards the Sunflower Seeds Team.
Vickie Downey will be back offering free mini manicures to anyone who picks the right card. Vendors, including local Steeped Tea hostess Peg Schieck, Stampin’ Up representative Margaret DeWitt, local artisan Donna Hirtle, Creative Memories demonstrator Paula Sauder and on-site store owner Tracey DeWeerd from Listowel First Choice Trophies and Scrapbooking, will be on hand to share their collective expertise.
The photo booth is always a big hit as Jessika Sutton from Dream Photography once again snaps the perfect picture for a suggested donation. Door prizes and a grand prize donated by local resident Louis W.F. Latham will be awarded.
There are still a few spots available for those who haven’t yet registered and for anyone who might not be able to spend an entire day, Zeal for Teal has opened their doors once again to visitors.
As Jan Moxey indicates, Zeal for Teal is a not only a day of raised awareness, a celebration of life, a time of new and renewed friendship and fun, it is also a bond created by a sisterhood. She knows firsthand how important it is for women to become aware of their own bodies.
“Who wouldn’t want to be part of Zeal for Teal?” says Moxey. “It is what makes me come back to Drayton each year.”
For more information check out the advertisement in this paper, contact the committee at sunflower.seeds.team@gmail.com or call 519-638-3215. Check out the Zeal for Teal blog at http://zealforteal.blogspot.ca .
