Red Deerians battled with foam swords, axes and shields to raise money for the Red Deer Food Bank.
The Red Stags of Red Deer hosted its first-ever "Fight the Knight" fundraiser at Parkland Mall on Saturday, March 22.
"We want to bring awareness to the Red Deer Food Bank and help out the community," said Bradley Bush, a member of the Red Stags of Red Deer, which is described as a medieval live-action role-playing (LARP) group.
"During the October, November and December months, a lot of people are super generous to the food bank and it's really appreciated. But when you come into the spring, you get through those donations. We wanted to put on this event to help boost them a little bit. Hunger is an issue that is year-round. We want to give back to our community."
During the event, a small ring was set up near GoodLife Fitness where people were invited to spar with members of the Red Stags, using foam weapons. Bush said he hopes to see the Fight the Knight fundraiser become an annual event.
The Red Stags of Red Deer were founded in 2012. After spending a couple years as a member of a parent organization, the Red Stags eventually broke off and became its own entity in 2014.
"We are a unique sports group," explained Victoria Jaburek, also with the Red Deer Stags.
"We cater to those who don't really fit into traditional sports, like football or baseball. Sometimes, people don't feel comfortable in those crowds — they may be more into nerd culture, or they're introverts. This is a great way for people to come share their passions while being physically active."
The Red Stags of Red Deer are particularly active between May and September, with weekly meetups in the Clearview neighbourhood. The group currently has 15-20 members.
"We're striving to add even more activities. Our members will meet up weekly to do crafting. We'll do all sorts of different things. When we can't get outside (due to weather) we'll go to places like the Wizard's Loft to get out nerd culture out there and have fun," said Jaburek.
"This group is all about connecting and having fun."
For more information on the Red Stags of Red Deer, visit www.redstags.ca. For more information on the Red Deer Food Bank, visit www.reddeerfoodbank.com.
