Is there such a thing as good grief?
While the loss of a loved one and a primary care-giver can be devastating, White Rock and South Surrey Hospice Society's Good Grief Camps for Kids provide a nurturing, positive way to help children and teens coping with loss, change and the grieving process.
And the fourth annual Good Grief Dance and Fundraiser – Saturday, May 9 at 8:30 p.m. at the Crescent Legion Branch 240 – promises local live music fans a good time dancing the night away to the high energy good time rock and roll of Big Backyard & Co. and The Ringtones, while contributing 100 per cent of ticket sales to the valuable program.
It's an event that's gone from strength to strength since it was created four years ago by Hospice and Big Backyard & Co. founders Doug Holt and Gordon Brown.
Holt and Brown recall that they were a week and a half away from presenting a fundraising dance in support of local youth when the event unravelled due to a union-management conflict.
Ready to play, but minus a venue and cause, they turned to Hospice Society former executive director Catherine Ferguson, who made them aware of the Good Grief camps – and thus the Good Grief Fundraiser Dance event was born.
"It's really interesting, the symbiotic relationship between the two groups – the charity and the bands," Holt said in a news release.
"The charity raises much-needed funds and awareness, and the bands get to play for a crowd," he added, noting that the Legion also gets a full house and the audience gets a fun night out.
Among the contributions to the event, said Holt, are "countless hours of rehearsal" by the bands, financial and in-kind support from local business, and the waiving of all fees by both venue and sound engineers, which allows all proceeds from the event to go to Hospice.
"It really highlights the sense of community and the spirit of giving back that is all around us," he said.
The event will also feature a door prize and raffle for a Raleigh bike and a 50/50 draw.
The Royal Canadian Legion Crescent Branch 240 is located at 2643 128 St.
Tickets ($15, cash or cheque only) are available at the Legion, through White Rock and South Surrey Hospice, or can be reserved by calling Holt at 604-787-1575.