Local animal rescue organization Running Wild Rescue is taking part in a unique fundraiser for the first time this year, and it involves both charitable donations and cupcakes.
Running Wild president Jasmin Wenarchuk is excited for the rescue to take part in the National Cupcake Day charity campaign and decorating contest, organized by the Ontario SCPA and sponsored by Milk Bone and Robin Hood.
The nation-wide campaign is entirely virtual this year, inviting individuals nation-wide to register online and begin collecting donations for their charity of choice. Participants are also invited to take part in the cupcake decorating challenge paired with the fundraiser.
For those entering the contest, all it takes is raising at least $50 for their charity by Feb. 17 and submitting a photo of their best-decorated cupcake for judging in the appropriate skill category. Winners from each category will be entered to win one of the prizes available, with includes pre-paid Mastercards, a KitchenAid stand mixer and more.
The participants with the highest total raised at the end of the event will also have a chance at some prizes, said Wenarchuk, in addition to the positive feeling of supporting an animal charity in need.
Winners for both the fundraising campaign and cupcake challenge will be announced on Feb. 22, leaving participants with a few more weeks to roll up their sleeves and get baking.
But, in the spirit of the campaign, everyone is encouraged to try their hand at making homemade cupcakes, cake pops or even pup cakes in addition to their fundraising efforts, to support their favourite animal organization.
Running Wild Rescue has plans to organize some upcoming cupcake-making of their own, to promote the campaign, as well as to share details about the fundraiser.
“We’re going to try to get together and make some cupcakes, get them posted to our page to try and win,” said Wenarchuck. “And we’ll be trying to get at many people to join in the baking and decorating as best they can, and we thought about fundraising as well.”
Running Wild Rescue is one of only two non-profit rescues in Saskatchewan taking part in the campaign this year, joined by many other SPCAs, non-profit rescues, and humane societies from across Canada.
Fundraising campaigns are so important to Running Wild Rescue, said Wenarchuk, as the rescue relies on donations to help cover the costs of vet bills and emergency medical needs for all the animals-in-need they take in.
“[We always have] a ton of vet bills, and we’re always desperate to make ends meet. Every case we get, [those animals] can come with anything and everything so we have to be ready for that,” said Wenarchuk. “Of course, you never really can be ready, because you don’t know where they’re coming from, so most of the money we raise is put back into [those expenses].
Wenarchuk is hoping to see plenty of support come their way from the campaign, especially as the rescue always sees lots of enthusiasm for other fundraisers they host.
“It’s phenomenal that people come together to help us make ends meet and they’re so supportive of what we do,” said Wenarchuk. “So we hope everybody who participates [in this campaign] has fun. It is something a little different, but something you can do with your family while also supporting something that means a lot.”
More information on National Cupcake Day and directions on how to register can be found at nationalcupcakeday.ca.
