Penticton seems to have gained another summertime tradition. And a worthy one at that.
Just finished its third year on Sunday and with a fourth annual edition already in the planning stages for summer 2020, "Mela for Cancer" long ago passed the honeymoon phase and looks to be with us for a good long while. And that's a good thing. Not only is it multicultural and a lot of fun, it also benefits a great cause.
When cancer claimed the life of Baljinder Thin in August of 2016, her granddaughter Ikjot Kahlon, in Grade 11 at the time, felt she needed to do something other than mourn. She talked with family and friends and together they hatched a concept for a cancer fundraiser that would intrinsically involve the local Punjabi community.
And Mela for Cancer was born.
"Mela," in Punjabi, means "festival," and that's precisely what it is. There's dancing and singing and a cool DJ spinning tunes. There's a huge selection of food tents, and a variety of vendors. And there are a lot of smiling faces.
But there's also the underlying cause. All the money spent at the Mela goes to the BC Cancer Foundation. All the money spent to advertise at the Mela goes to the BC Cancer Foundation. And the organizing committee doesn't stop there.
According to Kahlon's father Amar, "We also go to all the houses in our community and ask them for a donation for the event. Some provide food, others provide money. We're not a big community here - maybe 200 families - but we think we do quite well. One hundred percent of what we raise goes to the Foundation."
In its first year, Mela for Cancer raised $15,000. In year two, $20,000. The final total for year three is still to be decided, though Amar Kahlon says it'll be at least that of 2018.
The tentative plans for the 2020 Mela for Cancer are even grander. They're looking to add more entertainment and an even larger selection of cuisine.
For more information on Mela for Cancer or to contribute to the cause, go here.
