If you are looking to get into the holiday spirit a great local fundraiser has you covered. Coming up on Sunday, Dec. 8 is the Stratford Rotary Hospice dramatic reading of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.
“This is our second year holding the event at Avondale United Church,” said Lucie Stuart, the director of fund development and stewardship at the Rotary Hospice. “CBC radio announcer Judy Maddren helped us find readers who will tackle a piece of the story, and this year she managed to reach out to her former colleague Peter Mansbridge who will be the host of the event.”
The involvement of Mansbridge is not too surprising, as his wife Cynthia Dale was an honorary chair of the hospice capital campaign. Joining Mansbridge will be the readers of the story: Jamie Cottle, Sarah Dodd, Austin Eckert, Ryan Erb, Dayna Manning and Maddren. Music will be provided by Dan Stacey and Kinnaris.
“The night will feature Mansbridge hosting, the readings of the story, as well as musical interludes,” said Stuart. “Then there will be a short intermission with hot chocolate and shortbread being made.”
The night begins with the doors opening at 6 p.m. with the reading starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $50 with the proceeds going back to the hospice.
“There is no cost for someone to stay at the hospice,” said Stuart. “There is a cost to operate the hospice. We receive Ministry of Health funding that covers about 50 percent of our annual operating budget. The other 50 percent or about a million dollars is money we have to fundraise annually. Last year we were able to raise $20,000 at this event, and the goal is to do the same again this year.”
If you are looking to learn more about the event or to reserve your tickets visit this link.
