Boob Tour continues its laughs and fight

There are many ways people are fighting cancer today. Laughter is one of them.

The Boob Tour made a stop in Innisfail on April 5 to help with the fight.

The fourth annual standup comedy show took place at the Innisfail Legion and entertained hundreds of local residents who came out to support a good cause and enjoy a few laughs.

“All the money (raised) goes to the Canadian Cancer Society and the Alberta Cancer Foundation,” said Trish Proctor, organizer of the fundraiser event. “We've got three comedians tonight, and new this year we've got a silent auction and a live auction.”

The evening featured standup comedians, 50/50 tickets, Michael Barclay, the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion's sergeant at-arms shaving off his pink hair at intermission, and cancer survivor Jolene Bjarnason Blake sharing her story about her battle and victory with the disease.

“I am a fighter and I have never backed down from a fight no matter what the odds. Cancer picked the wrong redhead to mess with,” said Bjarnason Blake, adding that she is now six months cancer free.

While numbers were a bit lower for the event this year, noted Proctor, the event did sell about 150 tickets and raised a total of $5,000, which surpassed last year's total of $4,000.

“There's lots of new faces (here) we've never seen before, which is nice,” she said, noting the important role an event like The Boob Tour plays in fighting cancer, as well as the enjoyment it brings to communities. “It's a cheap night out with lots of fun. People really enjoy it.”

Bjarnason Blake best summed up the fundraising event with these words in her opening remarks.

“I stand before you cancer-free, a cancer survivor. I am a firm believer that people like all of you helped me so that I could be a survivor and not another statistic,” said Bjarnason Blake.

“I'm living proof that your donations are working.”

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