MEDIA RELEASE<\/p>\n
The 2015 Muskoka Novel Marathon (MNM) has again blasted past its fundraising goal ($20,000) and its previous record fundraising amount ($23,000 in 2014) with a current total to this point of $28,568.03.<\/p>\n
The money will go to the YMCA\u2019s Literacy Services in Huntsville, which gives classes to adults in literacy, numeracy and computer skills.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew it was going to be good,\u201d says MNM 2015 convenor Karen Wehrstein, who is also participating as a writer in her tenth marathon. \u201cI made a pie-in-the-sky prediction of my own, $25-27,000. To blow past that at the preliminary stage\u2026 when I found out, I got chills all over. There are last-minute donations that still need to be calculated in as well as donations still arriving. We’re hoping it\u2019ll go over $30,000.\u201d<\/p>\n
“It’s absolutely unbelievable,” says Eileen Lee, program co-ordinator for YMCA Learning Services. “The money will help enable us to provide additional quality instruction time.”<\/p>\n
“I am completely blown away by the total,” says Cheryl Cooper, who won the Remington Award as top fundraiser for the fourth year in a row by drumming up $1,975. “You think of what’s going on in the world, and how many people are suffering out there… It’s so much more than last year, and last year was amazing.”<\/p>\n
The final total will be revealed at the Novel Marathon\u2019s wrap-up event on Sept. 19<\/span>, when Best Novel winners will also be announced.<\/p>\n The Novel Marathon is currently underway at the Active Living Centre at the Canada Summit Centre in Huntsville, with 40 writers competing for Best Novel in two categories plus other prizes. They have 72 hours to complete their works, ending on Monday night.<\/p>\n Other writers who raised $1,000 or more are: Pat Flewwelling, Brenda Liddle, Tobin Elliott, Lenore Butcher, Janet Nichols, Joanne Galbraith, Lori Twining and Lisa Liscoumb. Between them, the nine top fundraisers netted $12,589.93. By topping $1,000, they have all earned themselves a guaranteed spot at next year\u2019s marathon\u2014a strong incentive, considering that all 40 spots were filled within 82 minutes of registration opening this year.<\/p>\n The 25 writers who raised more than $500 was eligible for draw prizes that included bookstore gift certificates, complimentary memberships in writers’ associations, beautiful local craft items, show tickets, a guided canoe trip, a stay in a yurt, and much much more.<\/p>\n\n\t\t