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Wrestlers lock horns for food bank

With the help of the Red Deer Food Bank, pro wrestlers pinned hunger for a three count.

With the help of the Red Deer Food Bank, pro wrestlers pinned hunger for a three count.

And food bank organizers say they aren’t done yet.

By working the concessions at the event on Nov. 1, about $500 was raised for the local food bank. Fred Scaife, Red Deer Food Bank executive director, said he hadn’t seen a wrestling card before but it sure was entertaining.

“It was fantastic,” said Scaife. “It’s probably one of the more unique event we’ve been involved in. In general it was a lot of fun.”

The event went so well Scaife said the partnership will continue when the wrestling promotion returns in the New Year.

“The reality is it’s entertainment,” said Scaife. “It is very entertaining and these guys are strong, they’re picking each other up and they’re all 250 pounds. It was a ton of fun, the organizers and the wrestlers were fantastic. We look forward to doing it again.”

Now that the wrestling food raiser has wrapped up, the focus for the food bank now shifts to their busiest weekend of the year.

From Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, the food bank has its annual stuff-a-bus campaign, which last year raised about $13,000 worth of food. At Parkland Mall, the food bank will accept donations in the hopes of packing a bus to the gills.

“Us and the Red Deer Christmas Bureau will be collecting money, food and toys,” said Scaife.

That weekend, Dec. 1 and 2, the food bank will be at the Westerner Bazaar looking for donations. That same weekend is the annual charity checkstop.

“Over the years we’ve kind of gotten used to it, because invariably they all fall on the same day,” said Scaife. “We look forward to that weekend, we just thrive on flying all over the place. It’s challenging and just a ton of fun.”

Through the month of December, the food bank has two more events on tap, hoping to fill shelves and, ultimately, the bellies of hungry Central Albertans.

Tom Jackson joins the Huron Carol to perform a show they’ve done for 20-plus years. Scaife said it is a real treat to have them stop by Red Deer.

“We’ve had the privilege of having Tom perform for us twice before,” said Scaife. “To have him back here again is going to be a lot of fun.”

They will be performing at the Memorial Centre, 4214 58th St. in Red Deer, on Dec. 17. Tickets can be purchased through the Black Knight Inn, www.blackknightinn.ca.

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will be full steam ahead to Red Deer, more specifically the CPR site at 6867 Edgar Industrial Dr., on Dec. 12 at 9:45 a.m.

When the train rolls into town, there will be a box car stage for Doc Walker, Miss Emily and Brothers Dube to perform and generate donations to the food bank. All food and funds donated at the Holiday Train event stay in the community.

mcrawford@www.reddeeradvocate.com