120,000 pounds of herring being sold to benefit kids with cancer

The fifth annual Fishermen Helping Kids With Cancer fundraiser is taking place in Richmond and Victoria today, as 120,000 pounds of herring is being sold off to help B.C. children with cancer.

“What we try and do is start packing fish at 5:30 in the morning. About 5,000 bags we’ll pack today, 20 pound bags of herrings. It just came off the boats yesterday,” says Phil Eidsvik, Director of Fisherman Helping Kids with Cancer.

“Every single penny from here goes to quality of life issues for kids…everybody here is a volunteer, the boat is donated, the ice is donated, fuel is donated.”

The sale goes until 4 p.m. today at Steveston Harbour Authority. A smaller event is also taking place in Victoria at 27 Erie Street, where 1,000 bags will be sold.

The event has raised more than $225,000 for kids being treated for cancer at BC Children’s Hospital since it began in 2011. Andrea Eidsvik says her family was inspired to start the event after her sister died of bone cancer at 17.

“A few days before she died, she was talking to my dad and was afraid of being forgotten…she didn’t only want to be remembered as a kid with cancer, she just wanted to be remembered as a teenager,” she said.

The money raised is earmarked towards Teen Group.

“They do all sort of activities so teens don’t feel so isolated. Anything that makes hospital stays more bearable,” says Andrea.

“A lot of teenagers often feel they’re the only ones with cancer, and feel isolated. Getting to meet other teenagers with cancer is huge.”