Zombie Walk braintrust plans online fundraiser

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This article was published 25/10/2021 (1818 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The rising of the dead has been postponed for another year, with the annual Brandon Zombie Walk fundraiser moving online to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Co-organizers Trista Creasy and Angel Robbins said it while it was disappointing to cancel the walk for the second year in a row, they are hopeful the community will rally to support the Funds for Furry Friends fundraiser.

“It was a lot of reforming of what we could do to raise the most funds for Funds for Furry Friends,” Creasy said. “Everyone has been suffering so much these last couple years due to COVID — animals don’t need to suffer as well.”

It was a difficult decision to cancel the walk again, but it was a necessary evil, Creasy said, triggered by the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the province. She added the need for everyone to be double vaccinated also impacted their decision because of the complicated logistics involved.

Organizers discussed different options and believed an online event would be the safest form of a fundraiser.

They have worked hard to make the best of an uncontrollable situation, Robbins said, and have put a lot of thought into planning the online event.

This year’s Zombie Walk has been dedicated to the memory of Linda Faye (Sebastian) Herrmann. Creasy said the Zombie Walk would be proud to represent her as she loved good scares, such as her volunteering at Grim Acres and also her love for animals.

Creasy and Robbins will be selling raffle tickets in support of Funds for Furry Friends and are also hosting an food drive fundraiser for animals. Residents will be able to donate items including dog and cat food, toys, crates, litter, leashes, collars and other items that benefit animals. Creasy added they are looking for essential items that can help facilitate animals living in foster homes.

Raffle ticket prices are $2 a ticket, $5 for three tickets or $8 for 10 tickets.

“The less Funds [for Furry Friends] has to pay for, the easier it is to be able to have them take more and save more animals,” Robbins said.

The raffle ticket prizes can be viewed on the Zombie Walk Facebook page, and include a painting from renowned Brandon artist Weiming Zhao. Robbins said he created an amazing piece, and whoever wins the prize will be lucky to have the gorgeous piece for their home. It is $10 to enter to win the painting.

All funds raised during the virtual walk are given to Funds for Furry Friends.

The Zombie Walk has been taking place in Brandon for 12 years, and Creasy and Robbins have helped organize both COVID-19 walks. They hosted a similar fundraising raffle in 2020.

While the experience of hosting an online event made planning the 2021 virtual walk easier because it laid out a foundation for them, preparation for this year’s walk was more difficult because there was a hope it would be able to go forward in-person.

“It almost made it harder because with the COVID numbers going down, we were so pumped and amped to actually be able to do the walk. Then numbers started increasing again,” Creasy said. “It was very hard because there were going to be different things that we were planning for this year, that now unfortunately we can’t.”

She added they are keeping special treats in their back pocket for the 2022 Zombie Walk, assuming an in-person event can go forward.

“You see a whole bunch of effort put in by the community with their looks and it’s just a lot of fun,” Robbins said. “It’s such a happy gathering. Funds come out and sometimes they’re able to bring adoptable dogs so people can see some of the animals.”

They are hopeful to see an in-person event next year, she said, but encouraged people to show off their zombie looks online for the virtual event.

To purchase raffle tickets in support of the Zombie Walk fundraiser, please contact Creasy at 204-730-2498 or Robbins at 204-574-4298.

» ckemp@brandonsun.com

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