THUNDER BAY – Many residents found themselves stranded at the Thunder Bay Main Lighthouse on Saturday – for a good cause.
The United Way of Thunder Bay hosted its second annual Great Lighthouse Rescue, a fundraiser for vital programs and services in the community.
Brave volunteers were cast away at sea to help raise money for the United Way of Thunder Bay.
Around 13 United Way partner agencies sent groups to be stranded at the Thunder Bay Main Lighthouse.
They were only able to be rescued once they reached their $2,000 fundraising goal.
Donning yellow raincoats, Gail Hamilton and her co-workers Nancy Allen and Tammy Ambrose were one of many groups left at the lighthouse.
They represented Children's Centre Thunder Bay, and said they jumped at the opportunity to get stranded for a good cause.
“United Way supports a lot of different areas for children and families throughout our community,” Hamilton said.
“By giving back to the community, it makes us better people.”
It gives people a chance to see all the different organizations that are available and really help our community, she added.
This year United Way's goal was to reach $40,000, which would be matched by two organizations to total $80,000.
They have already surpassed their fundraising goal, and the money will be going towards vital programs and services in the community, said Albert Brule, CEO of the United Way.
“We have partner agencies that will send their castaways to the lighthouse. Their mission is to invite supporters to donate to help them get rescued,” Brule said.
“We have a number of community leaders who have stepped up to help rescue missions. For example, we have Const. Jill Logan and than Shannon Sauer from Memorial Home Hardware.”
All kinds of fabulous people like that have given up their time to help a good cause, he said.
The event would not be possible without the members of the HMCS Griffon Naval Reserve, who took the castaways to and from the lighthouse.
Commander Nathanael Moulson helped come up with the fundraising idea. He said the event is an evolution of the billboard rescue.
“The CEO, Albert, and myself were having coffee one day. We came up with the idea to run this event,” Moulson said.
“We thought this would be a really cool twist to get people to a location that is quite unique.”
Donations for the Great Lighthouse Rescue can still be made online until June 4 on the United Way’s website.
