(UPDATE) May fundraisers for MS Canada collect nearly $22,000

Updated, July 18th, 9 a.m.: This story was updated after Energeticcity.ca was informed about incorrect information it had been supplied over which branch of SI’s Oilfield Hauling made the donation, and an error in the photo caption.

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — This past May was an extremely successful fundraising period for the Peace region branch of MS Canada with nearly $22,000 collected for the cause.

May is Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Month, a major fundraising period for the charity as it works to find a cure for the autoimmune disease.

Sherri Mytopher, a local advocate with MS Canada, appeared on 100.1 Moose FM on July 16th outlining the results of the group’s fundraising efforts in Fort St. John and the Peace region as a whole throughout the month.

According to Mytopher, the month went “very well.”

“We had a pub night on May 24th, and we raised just under $15,000 at that event,” Mytopher said. 

“It was a great turnout, we had a lot of people at the [Canadian Brewhouse], it’s a great venue to have our fundraiser at and partner with them. So, that was a really fun event.”

Two local restaurants – Audielicious and the Olive Tree – each also collected donations for MS Canada throughout the month. According to Mytopher, Audielicious brought in $400 and the Olive Tree raised nearly $600.

A barbecue event held at KJA Ventures on May 30th also raised $2,500, and cash donations of $1,000 from SI’s Oilfield Hauling in Bay Tree and $500 from the Bank of Montreal brought in another $1,500.

“We had some really great partners that [made] some cash donations and helped raise our fundraising total — which, overall [we] raised just under $22,000 this year,” Mytopher said.

According to Mytopher, the return of the MS Walk awareness event was also successful, considering it was the first time one had been held in Fort St. John in five years.

“The walk had a bit of a light turnout, of course, because it was the first one in five years,” she said. 

“We kind of expected that, but it raised awareness, and we had Mayor [Lilia] Hansen there and Councillor [Sarah] MacDougall there and it was really great.”

Regarding future fundraising events, Mytopher says MS Canada’s annual ‘Burgers to Beat MS’ campaign in partnership with A&W will be returning soon.

Beginning July 21st, customers at the Fort St. John and Dawson Creek A&W locations will be able to round up their bills to the nearest dollar to donate to MS Canada. 

That option will be available until August 21st, and on that date, $2 from every teen burger sold will go towards MS Canada as well.

The campaign raised $1.6 million across Canada in 2024, according to Mytopher.

“Since 2008, when the fundraiser started, it’s been just over $20 million raised at A&W for MS Canada,” she said.

Anyone interested in volunteering with or learning more about MS Canada can visit the Peace Region MS Events Facebook page.