Raising funds to aid Fiji

Grilled to perfection barbecued burgers, hot dogs slathered in favourite condiments, crisp and delicious french fries, incredible live music, a silent auction and an assortment of entertainment for children are on tap at the upcoming TANGO Foundation’s Summer Fundraising Supper Aug. 17. The TANGO Foundation or Taber Assisting Nations through Global Outreach is raising funds to assist with supplies for a local team of medical, dental, vision and construction professionals providing humanitarian service in Fiji.

“It’s basically a fundraising supper for the TANGO Foundation to raise money for our trip to Fiji in November. We’ll be taking doctors, nurses, dentists, surgery, anesthesia, optometrists and then other community members who just want to build. We’re building a school there, a local Kindergarten for the villages,” said local doctor Ryan Torrie, who is also on the board of directors of the foundation.

Kids of all ages will enjoy cotton candy, shaved ice, jumpy castles, a petting zoo and horse rides and silent auction items up for grabs include an Apple TV, t-shirts and a signed NHL jersey. Live entertainment will feature Gloria Cyr, “Wild” Bill Lawson and Charles and Terri Valgardson. Recently, the foundation put on a community fundraising garage sale and managed to raise $4,600 to go towards medications, surgical supplies, equipment and building materials for the construction of a school plus the educating of local residents in need within the village.

“We made close to $5,000 at the garage sale and we’re hoping to raise around $12,000 to build the school. The rest of the funds go towards medical, dental, surgical supplies and thousands of dollars in medication. We’re all paying our own way and it’s completely voluntary,” added Torrie. “So all the money raised will go directly to the people who do need it.”

According to Torrie, this will be the first unified effort for the foundation of 43 individuals, in travelling to Fiji Nov. 22-Dec. 2 to provide charitable service to those in need. The volunteer group will be travelling to the Mission at Natuvu, a private medical facility to a remote underserviced area in the Fijian Islands.

The fundraising supper is from 4-7 p.m. at Valhalla (Lloyd and Helene Ypma’s) located south of Rocky Mountain Equipment in Taber. Tickets are $15 for 12 and over, $10 for children 3-11 and free for children 2 and under. Tickets for the event can be purchased at Taber IGA and Johnson’s Drug Store.