Participants will be treated to a wonderful Alice in Wonderland-themed tea party at the 5th Annual Zeal for Teal fundraiser for the Sunflower Seeds Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope on April 27. Organizers are putting the kettle on and brewing up another delightful day for scrap-bookers and crafters of every variety at the Drayton Arena.
Participants can share in the fun and excitement of the day, including a tea house, gift store, a flamingo croquet game, silent auction, penny table, door prizes, vendors and more.
A special attraction this year will be the fancy-dress look-alike contest in which participants are invited to pick a favourite character from Lewis Caroll’s Alice in Wonderland tale and dress accordingly.
As usual, the expert chefs will be creating a fanciful feast fit for a royal tea party. Snacks, treats, a photo-booth, giveaways, make and takes, a special ‘Eat Me’ draw, a Grand Prize and more, will keep everyone happy and involved.
The original intention of Zeal for Teal, when chairpersons, Amanda Belec Newton and Glynis Belec started it in 2009, was primarily to raise awareness and inform participants and others, especially susceptible women, about the signs and symptoms and the importance of detecting ovarian cancer in the early stages. The secondary purpose of Zeal for Teal is to raise funds for the Sunflower Seeds team as they participate, annually, in the Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope in September.
The response from the community and beyond has been phenomenal over the years. Local attendees have helped raise awareness and funds, along with others from as far away as Burlington and Hanover.
Each year participation numbers increase and local businesses continue to be very generous in donating prizes, food, beverages, monetary gifts and more.
Zeal for Teal is particularly grateful for the support of Bloomingdales, which has been providing sunflowers, prize or decoration donations and balloon bouquets since the very first event in June 2009 at the Drayton Reformed Church.
Ovarian cancer is the most serious of all gynecological cancers. Over 2600 Canadian women are diagnosed every year; and every year 1750 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.
Make a difference
The goal of Zeal for Teal and the Sunflower Seeds Team, is to help make a difference. And it seems from the response to this annual fundraising event, that this is happening. No longer is ovarian cancer always looked upon as the disease that whispers. Zeal for Teal helps ‘make a noise’ and increases the chances of a woman with ovarian cancer being detected early.
As an added highlight this year to Zeal for Teal, organizers have decided to help out the Drayton Foodbank and are encouraging participants who might like to earn an extra door prize ticket, to bring along a donation of non-perishable food.
Spaces for this great annual Zeal for Teal event fill up quickly, so potential participants are encouraged to take advantage of the Early Bird Deadline of Feb. 14. For details see the ad in the Community News or check out details at http://zealforteal.blogspot.ca.
Registration forms can be obtained by contacting Glynis at 519-638-3215 or emailing sunflower.seeds.team@gmail.com .
