Fundraising events are relatively common things in the area. So many worthy causes, so many committed people.
However, each community holds certain signature events that stand out in comparison to every other community. Events that are as unique as the communities themselves, and deserve to receive special comment as a result.
An excellent example of this type of event is the annual Lobster for Life dinner held in the community of Lampman.
Lampman has been hosting the event for four years now, and has successfully managed to sell out every single year since its inception.
The brainchild of two Lampman women whose common past led to the development of the dinner, Shelley Fornwald and Melodie Willock have been organizing the dinners since day one.
The two shared a similar tragedy four years ago now, when both women lost their mothers to breast cancer.
Determined to make a difference in the future, the two put their heads together and came up with the idea of a lobster dinner as a great way of raising money to help those who wage the war against cancer.
"It helped reinforce that this was something I needed to do," Fornwald said. "We understand the strain that this disease puts on families, especially ones from rural areas like where we live."
"It can be difficult sometimes to get to the urban centres for treatments for some people."
This year's event was another smashing success by all indicators. It took place on the evening of Saturday, Sept. 25 at the Lampman Curling Rink.
With doors opening at 5:30 p.m. the line was out the door by 5:45 p.m. as the fortunate ones who had purchased their tickets in advance were admitted.
Outside, and in back of the rink, a flurry of activity was underway. With 450 meals needing to be prepared, the taskforce of grillers and lobster cooks began cooking at the fevered pace.
"We have six people over the steak pit, and another four working the lobsters," said Donald Willock, one of the cooks and husband to organizer Melodie Willock. "It takes around two hours to boil our way through 450 lobsters, but most of that work is done by people who have a lot of experience with lobsters."
The people Willock is speaking of are Darren Leptich, Nick Leptich, Brad Leptich and Wayne Hein, all of Prairie PetroChem.
"These guys deserve a lot of respect and thanks for the volunteer effort they put into this event," Willock said. "They are also the guys responsible for a bunch of the other lobster dinner fundraisers you hear about, including the big one in Estevan."
Another familiar face drifting about around the cooking area was Lampman mayor Scott Greening, who was dressed for the occasion in an apron.
"This is a really great event, and they get quite a few people out every year," Greening said of event. "It has risen quite a bit of money for a good cause, and everyone seems to have a great time with it. Every year people keep coming back too, so I guess that is a good sign of how popular it is."
Over the course of the dinner there has been in the past presentations made by cancer survivors and others who have been touched by the disease.
This year however, there were no guest speakers, and instead the time was taken up with entertainment.
Leading the evening was professional emcee Trevor Gowen of Big Talk Productions.
A full-time radio personality at a rock station located in Prince Albert, Gowan's wit and quick tongue made sure the evening was filled with laughter throughout.
Three auctions were also held through the evening as additional fundraisers, and an impressive selection of items, from high-end to low-end, were displayed on tables and stages set up around the hall.
With live, Chinese, and Dutch auctions held through the evening, it seemed there was something for everyone up for grabs, and the generosity of the crowd shone throughout the bidding.
In the end the 2010 Lobster for Life dinner raised more than $45,000. Of that amount, $15,000 came from entrance fees, and an additional $30,000 came from the three auctions.
The previous three years has seen the event raise an accumulated total of $119,000.
With these new numbers, the Lobster for Life dinner has raised around $165,000 for cancer research and support.
