Rib 'n' Roll raises $80,000 for Brampton kids

Posted by Stephen Rhodes 
 

Rotary Rib ‘n’ Roll, Brampton’s annual ribfest, generated $80,000 this year to support children in Brampton.

 ImageSome $25,000 was raised through the efforts of the Royal Bank (RBC) and RBC Dominion Securities in the roll portion of the event and that money goes to Tour for Kids, an organization that helps children with cancer.  An additional $55,000 was raised at the three-day event and those proceeds will go to support Rotary’s children’s’ charities.

 “We had record crowds this year and we are extremely pleased with the outcome,” says Brad Goodison, chair of the event for the Rotary Club of Brampton.  “We are fortunate that we have such great support from sponsors and our volunteers.”

 Lori O'Hara-Hoke from Tour for Kids said "we're truly thankful to the Rotary Club of Brampton. Once again, their volunteerism and community out-reach culminated in another stellar Rib'n'Roll event at Gage Park. We rely on these partnerships to raise awareness and funding for children and their families living with and beyond cancer.

 Rotary's organization and follow-through truly exemplifies the calibre of this organization and their ability to engage the Brampton community to support the Rotary kids’ charities and Tour for Kids.

 We were truly grateful that once again the RBC family stepped up to fundraise through Dominion Securities and local RBC branches with bake sales, barbecues, book sales and many more to support Tour For Kids. “

 This is the eighth year for Rib ‘n’ Roll, an event that was started as Blade-a-thon 16 years ago by founder Rob van Kessel.  Ribs were added in 2004.  Attendance this year at the event was just shy of 20,000 over three days, the most successful year ever. During the weekend in May, the club paid tribute to van Kessel, who died this spring from a brain tumour.

 “His leadership is missed but his legacy lives on,” says Rotary Club President Warren Rasberry.

 Rasberry praised the work of volunteers. “A tremendous amount of work goes into this event and it requires hundreds of volunteer man hours over three days to make it a success. I am proud our club rises to the challenge every year.”

 “In Rotary we talk about helping our community and the world become a better place. And along the way we like to have a little fun. Rib ‘n’ Roll is the first major event of the summer in Brampton and it was clear the crowd was having fun.”

 Rasberry says the money raised will support Rotary’s ongoing work with children in Brampton.

The event is held the fourth weekend of May every year. Visit www.ribnroll.com for details.

 Check out Photos of the event on our Facebook Page