It’s been a “lawn” time coming for the event organizers of a wildly popular cystic fibrosis fundraiser, but they’ve finally hit – or rather bowled – a milestone that will help thousands of Canadians suffering from cystic fibrosis.
This year, 900 lawn bowlers took part in events in Vancouver, Victoria, Ottawa, Toronto and London, and raised more than $275,000, bringing their five-year total surpassing $500,000.
The Lawn Summer Nights fundraising event started in earnest five years ago in Vancouver, inspired by New Westminster, B.C.’s Eva Markvoort, who struggled with cystic fibrosis before her death in 2010 at the age of 25.
Markvoort, who was the subject of the award-winning documentary 65_RedRoses, was a passionate advocate for organ donation and provided hope and inspiration to many others who suffered from the disease by blogging and connecting with others online.
Five years ago, Duncan Gillespie, Graham Dalik and Andrew Dalik, decided to organize the first Lawn Summer Nights event as a way to honour their friend Markvoort and raise money for the cause.
It was the only year she would be able to attend the event, as months later her body rejected her recent lung transplant and she returned to the hospital. Markvoort passed away in March 2010.
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The first year, lawn bowlers, who sign up in teams of four and compete at the Granville Park Lawn Bowls Club for the month-long tournament, raised $11,000, but that number has steadily rolled higher and higher each year.
The event began to expand to other Canadian cities as well, and has become so popular it sells out in minutes every year.
Gallery: Lawn Summer Nights Vancouver 2013
“The event is a tribute to our incredible friend Eva and evokes her vivacious, positive and colourful spirit,” said Jamie Molloy, who was a friend of Markvoort’s and participates every year.
And colourful it is. Competitors dress up in themed costumes, and compete against each other both on the lawn and off, creating clever team names and throwing additional events to raise as much money as possible.
Event spokesperson Kimberley Bowie said continuing Markvoort’s legacy of raising awareness is the driving force behind the fundraising efforts of the participants, volunteers and sponsors.
“Eva’s legacy is to one day make CF stand for ‘cure found,’ and combined with the fundraising dollars and the awareness of what cystic fibrosis is, means a generation of 20 somethings will learn, know and share about it, which is a cornerstone to finding a cure,” she said.
The Vancouver event, which raised more than $100,000, wrapped up Thursday night with 200 bowlers gathering for the grande finale. All funds raised go to Cystic Fibrosis Canada.
To become an organ donor in B.C., click here.
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