By Heather Nelson - 100 Mile House Free Press
The Big Country Shrine Club #50 (BCSC) is a driving force behind getting sick children to hospitals.Throughout British Columbia, the Shriners have five buses that help transport sick children to hospitals in Portland, Seattle and Vancouver.
"We've been fundraising for our annual fundraiser Shrine Kids Dream Draw," says BCSC president Ray Matwick.
"We raise funds to offset the transportation and accommodation costs of driving sick children and their families to our hospitals." He adds the BCSC are helping two local children with travel and accommodation costs.
The BCSC was inaugurated in September 1994, says Matwick, and belong to the Gizeh Temple. B.C. is separated into districts that are called temples.
Nationally, the Shriners own 22 hospitals for children focusing on orthopedic conditions and burn-related injuries, although they also look after other disease care.
Last year, Matwick says, the Shriners spent roughly $548 million to maintain the hospitals.
"We're constantly asked where the money comes from to do the work that we do. We've received donations from Roy Rogers, Red Skelton, Dave Thomas, all sorts of people. The money is put into trust funds and we use the interest from it."
There are 12 to 14 BCSC members in the area, says Matwick, with 27 members on the books.
For more information on Shriners, call Matwick at 250-395-3107, Glen Clancy at 250-396-7185, or Google Masons of BC.
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