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By Curtis Galbraith

Community

Organ donation awareness event back but with one big change

Feb 3, 2023 | 6:00 AM

A Sexsmith-based fundraiser and awareness event in support for organ donation is back this year but with a change.

The former Andrea Vavrek Bonspiel 4 Hope is now called the Andrea Vavrek Dine & Dance 4 Hope.

Organizer Larry Vavrek says he has decided not to have a bonspiel this year.

“It was just too much for me to organize the bonspiel, the dance, the speeches, everything else. I’m getting too old, so I just cut (it) back a step and we just went with the dine and dance.”

He adds everything else will be the same.

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“We’ve got a fantastic band. We’ve got BIG Guitar from Fairview. A lot of people around here have heard them, and we’ve actually got people from (the) Fairview area that have phoned and bought tables because they follow the band.”

“That is a good sign when people follow the band.”

Vavrek says there will be a supper, silent auction, and presentations from organ donation experts from the University of Alberta.

He started the event after his daughter Andrea died in a vehicle crash near Manning in 2007. She was a strong advocate for organ donation during her lifetime and donated several organs after her passing.

“One of her buddies told me because we were trying to figure it out one time, (and) they said she was even pushing signing donor cards when she was in 4-H, which was right around Grade 7.”

The supper, dance, and silent auction will be held February 18 at the Sexsmith Civic Centre. Call Vavrek for tickets at 780-876-0999.