News | DrumhellerMail

Jaydee Bixby plans cancer fundraiser after Canada Day performance

bixby

   One of Drumheller’s native sons is coming home for Canada Day, and while he is here, he hopes to make a difference for cancer patients locally.
   Jaydee Bixby and members of his family will be headlining the Canada Day celebration in Drumheller and he is excited to be coming for the concert.
   “We are looking forward to it,” Bixby tells The Mail. “We are also playing Hand Hills Stampede. It is really important for us to be there.”
   On top of this performance, he is planning a cancer fundraiser and awareness event called “River Float for Cancer.”
   “I have been involved with many different cancer fundraisers myself, but I have never been involved in organizing one,” Bixby tells The Mail.
   He has been in contact with Betty Farmer who is helping with the logistics of creating the event.
   Like many people, his life has been touched by cancer.
   “I lost my grandparents to cancer, my big sister has had cancer before and my dad is going through a bout right now,” said Bixby.
   On July 2, he said he is planning to cast off from Nacmine with as many floaters on tubes or rafts as possible, with a vision of filling the river.
   “I spent a lot of my childhood swimming in that river, whether it was Newcastle Beach or just below the North Drumheller bridge. That’s where I learned to swim,” said Bixby. “I’ve done walks for the cure, but I have never actually heard of floating for the cure.”
   He is hoping to raise some funds along the way, and to use them to support cancer treatment and patient care in Drumheller. He personally knows people in the valley who often have to go to larger centres to receive treatment. This is time consuming and expensive for the patient and families.
   “If we can keep people in their hometown, that is just a small thing that we can look at doing,” he said. “I think this is something we can get the whole town behind.”
   Just as important as funds is awareness.
   “They don’t have to donate large amounts of money to make a difference, just being open to talk freely about it - how cancer affects everybody. Big, small, it doesn’t matter who you are. This is something I am passionate about.”
   To learn more about the regatta, or to get involved, check out the Facebook page “Drumheller’s First River Float For Cancer.”

Early morning collision on 11 Ave SE

car accident

On Thursday morning, February 25, the above car collided with a home at 401- 11 Avenue SE., Drumheller. RCMP Constable Allison was in attendance and further details will be released once the initial investigation is complete.

Big Country Seniors consider bid for 55-Plus Games event

games

   An Alberta 55-plus Games Festival, highlighting games of skill, may be on its way to the Valley.
   The Big Country Senior Sports Society (BCSSS) is considering putting Drumheller’s name in the hat to host an event this fall.
   Linda Traquair, vice president of BCSSS, says a number of changes to the 55-Plus Games organization has made it possible for smaller communities to take a more active role in hosting more events. Rather than summer and winter games, they will have combined events every two years, dubbing these the “active games,” based on physical competition. The zones will host smaller events with some of the games geared more towards skill rather than athletic ability, such as cards.
   Later this month there will be a meeting where Traquair said the BCSSS is planning to bid for an event in the fall of 2016. The event, tentatively slated for September 30 to October 2 could attract from 400 to over 500 competitors. They are looking at needing possibly 200 volunteers for the games.
   “Zone Two, which Drumheller is a member, thought right away of Drumheller because of our facility,” she said, adding it could be a boost for the economy during this slow period.
   “Look at what it could do for hotels and restaurants,” she said.
   While Drumheller has never hosted an official event, it has held tournaments and qualifying events in previous years. It had 10 participants attend the 2015 Winter Games in Lethbridge, and 12 participants attend the 2015 Summer games in Strathmore.
   One change for the games is that these “festival events” would now be under a user pay model, meaning that the competitors would be responsible for their own travel, meals and lodging.
    “By splitting the game up this way, smaller communities can actually host it,” she said.
   A tentative schedule would have registration and possibly opening ceremonies on Thursday, with competition running Friday, Saturday and possibly Sunday. They would host a banquet on the Friday evening.
   She said she is talking to Drumheller’s very active pickle ball players with the aim of hosting pickle ball as a demonstration event. She says it could be good for the games.
   “It (pickle ball) is a good spectator sport and a good way to bringing the younger 55-plus participants. The card players do tend to be some of the older people. We need to get more of the young seniors involved for the survival of the games,” she said.

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