By Lethbridge Herald on September 7, 2021.
Dale Woodard
Lethbridge Herald
The tunes were pumping and the burgers were flipping on the patio Saturday at Hudsons Canada’s Pub, and for a good cause.
As they gear up for their Royal Gala in November, Royal LePage South Country Real Estate took advantage of a sunny late-afternoon and early-evening weather for a Whoop-Up Days-themed charity barbecue for Lethbridge YWCA Harbour House.
“Whenever we do fundraisers we always choose to support Harbour House. We have a partnership with them,” said Ally Keith, Realtor with the Southern Alberta Homes Team at Royal LePage South Country. “We did one (BBQ) two years ago before COVID. The previous one we did a couple years ago was a big fundraiser. We raised about $5,000 for Harbour House then. So we’re hoping to raise some money again this year in collaboration with the event we’re going to be hosting in November, which is our annual Royal Gala.”
Early in Saturday’s fundraiser, a few diners were already taking advantage of the warm weather, burgers and cold beverages with a few games set up nearby for those interested.
“We have Cornhole and Jenga,” said Keith. There might be some competitions and the guys are pretty excited about it.”
Saturday’s fundraiser went from 5 to 7 p.m.
“We’re only open for a couple hours so we hope to raise a couple thousand for them,” said Keith.
After COVID-19 cancelled last year’s fundraiser, Keith welcomed the chance to be back Saturday and was thankful for the cooperative weather.
“Which is a nervous thing with an outdoor event, you never know. But we’re happy to back and it’s important because the YMCA really needs these funds. To do what we can is what matters to us.”
However, the pandemic couldn’t keep down last year’s Royal Gala with the 23rd annual event going online.
To date, the Royal Gala is approaching the million dollar mark with roughly $957,000 raised for the YWCA Harbour House.
The hope this November is to return to a live auction, said Keith.
“It (online event) went really well, which is what you have to expect with the climate we’re in. But this year we’re hoping to go back to a live event. Tentatively, that’s what we have planned. So we’ll see as restrictions change, you can only do so much. But there’s something we love about the live event. We’ll plan for it and hope for the best.”
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