Ladysmith Rotary holds fundraiser for Disaster Aid Canada Each Disaster Aid Canada kit costs about $1,000 and includes a waterproof tent, dishes, mosquito nets, blankets, a multi-fuel stove, clean water systems and other items.

A round-trip flight tour from Nanaimo to Victoria and other great prizes are up for grabs as Ladysmith Rotary (Vancouver, District 5020) holds its second annual evening in support of Disaster Aid Canada (DAC) and adds eradicating polio to the event new for this year.
As the official sponsor of the humanitarian aid organisation for this area, which includes Vancouver Island and part of northern Washington, the local Rotary club is committed to supporting the efforts of DAC.
“We believe that it’s a really important thing that they do,” said Don Mercer, chair of the Disaster Aid/Polio fundraiser.
“We’ve also added eradicating polio to the event this year because there’s still some areas in the world where polio is a problem and it’s only a plane ride away from you and I.”
Over $10,000 was raised last year between the Ladysmith Rotary evening and challenges to other clubs.
Each Disaster Aid Canada kit costs about $1,000 and includes a waterproof tent, dishes, mosquito nets, blankets, a multi-fuel stove, clean water systems and other items.
The seven-person shelters and accompanying kits are shipped to areas in Canada and disaster zones around the world where people are in need.
“(DAC) recently ordered another 200 kits thanks to funding from Rotary in general and other members of the public,” Mercer said.
Hotel rooms, a projector and a ride in a Chinese plane are among just some of the prizes people can bid for while supporting a good cause at the same time.
“It’s a fun live auction where people can bid on items – some of them are pretty big too,” he said. “We’ve also added a silent auction because that’s a fun thing where people can compete with each other to see what they can get.”
DAC also runs a Soap for Hope program to reduce disease, Little Dresses for Africa as well as Days for Girls Kits.
A display on eradicating polio will be set up at the event as well as another showing the complete disaster aid kit and new tent design.
The $20 ticket includes hot and cold appetisers and all the fun gets started at Aggie Hall at 6.30 pm.