Kamloops sisters launch photo contest fundraiser for B.C. Wildlife Park

Two sisters from Kamloops are taking matters into their own hands to keep the animals at the B.C. Wildlife Park fed.

Alicia and Skyleigh McCallum have created a photo contest fundraiser of Facebook for wildlife park in Kamloops and hope to raise $10,000 – enough money to feed all of the animals for a month.

“The wildlife park has been a huge part of our family since I can remember and we saw an article about how it was going to be really hard for them to keep going, because a lot of the money that they make is from people coming to the park, but because of COVID-19 it’s shut down,” Alicia says. “So we started brainstorming and thinking about what we could do.”

After a few weeks of planning, the sisters launched the Facebook group Kamloops Wildlife Park Photo Contest Fundraiser last week and have so far raised around $1,000.

People can submit photos for $10 each, and those wanting to vote for photos can buy ‘ticket’ packages, although everything is done on the web with directions on the page. Photo submissions should be related to the B.C. Wildlife Park, pets or animals in the wild.

Alicia says the first place winner will receive four rounds of golf at Rivershore Estates and Golf Links, a wine tour, a Duffy’s Pub gift certificate and two bottles of wine. Second place is a free dinner at a yet to be determined location and tickets for four to a Blazer’s game with a private table and full lounge service. The third place winner will win a one-hour photo session complete with hair and makeup.

Even if you don’t have a knack for photography you can still score some swag. Alicia says they plan to do a raffle each day, and have collected donations from home-based local businesses.

Alicia says the winners will be announced on June 15. If the fundraiser goes well, she says they’d be willing to keep it up as long as the wildlife park is in need.

“I would love to do this again. It’s been absolutely amazing.”

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