Enthusiastic and occasionally mischievous participants allowed themselves to be "arrested" for offences such as "being too nice to employees" and "wearing tacky shirts" this weekend as part of a cancer fundraiser.
Acting as Judge RCMP Staff Sgt. Steve LeClair presided over court where participants were sentenced with bail amounts then placed in a jail during Sunday's farmers' market in Whistler.
Prisoners phoned as many contacts as a cell phone battery would them to asking for money to help bail them out. "I'm phoning my Mom" was heard often from inside the cell, said RCMP Sgt Rob Knapton, operations NCO.
Allowing themselves to be arrested and publicly jailed in the name of fun and a great cause were; Jeff O'Brien of the Westin Hotel, Tom Lefkovits of the Hilton Hotel, Wayne Katz — Gone Bakery / Moguls, Heather Paul from Whistler Presents and Chris Quinlan manager of the Whistler Farmer's Market.
The event in its second year was strongly supported once again by residents and guests of Whistler and area, raising over $8,000. The funds are being raised by two of Whistler's Auxiliary members David McKenzie and Jeff Krauss, who have volunteered to ride in the Cops for Cancer — Tour de Coast. This 900-kilometre tour pedals the Sea to Sky corridor as well as the Sunshine Coast, North Shore and cities in Greater Vancouver from Maple Ridge to Richmond. Each participating member is responsible for raising a minimum of $6,000 to participate. All funds raised go to pediatric cancer research and the support of Camp Goodtime, a free camp for children and youth with cancer.
Heather Paul, personally touched by cancer within her own family, said it best: "If you have a child, know a child or were a child. You know how important this event is."
If you missed the event, donations can still be made this worthwhile cause. For more information go to: http://www.copsforcancerbc.ca.
