Paddle for Fairvern needs you!

Fairvern’s biggest fundraiser of the year kicked off today with a request from board chair, Rob Laver: bring your friends. “The more the merrier,” he said. “There’s lots of room and we are nowhere near capacity. Come out and have fun.” Approximately 100 paddlers participated in 2015, many of whom were returning for at least the second time.

The 4th annual Paddle for Fairvern aims to raise another $30,000 to $40,000 to add to the more than $100,000 already raised in the past three years. Funds raised will go toward the redevelopment of Fairvern.

[The 67-year-old former Huntsville hospital building no longer meets Ministry standards and its time is ticking. The not-for-profit long-term care home has been classed as a C facility, one up from becoming a D, which means you either redevelop in some form or risk getting shut down. Read the story on Doppler here: Fairvern turns to Town and District for help with redevelopment needs.)

“We need to rebuild the building. (Repairs) are the kind of thing that happen here every day. It’s getting a little tired,” said Laver. “(The funds) are helping to pay for our preliminary plan.” The redevelopment cost for Fairvern is pegged at approximately $18 million, up to eight million of which Fairvern will have to raise. “It’s a big number.”

Fairvern is home to 76 residents aged 45 to 101. The building is more than 30 years old and was formerly Huntsville’s hospital.

In addition to paddlers, the event needs volunteers and business sponsors to help make the day a success.

Paddle for Fairvern will be held Saturday, August 6 with participants once again paddling approximately 15 kilometres from Hutcheson Beach to Hidden Valley Resort. A barbecue will follow. Paddlers and volunteers can register here; pledges in support of a paddler or donations to the cause can be made here.

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