Marksmen young and old will attempt to fend of hordes of zombies with foam darts during a two-day Nerf fundraiser, Aug. 24 to 25 in East Balzac.
“I think this [event] is going to be just epic,” said organizer Andrew Downey with YYC Foam Wars, a local Nerf club.
The zombie-themed event, Downey said, will divvy up participants into two teams based on ability and equipment, in an effort to keep the sides even. He said face painters will help dress the undead for the several zombie vs. human games. Besides shooting each other with foam darts, each team will also have missions they can complete for prizes.
Downey said he’s particularly excited the first day of the event – Aug. 24 from noon to 3 p.m. – will be the first ever YYC Foam Wars event at a new venue. New Horizon Mall has allowed the club to use nearly its entire underground parkade – which, Downey said, will give the zombie theme a more realistic feel.
“We’ve partnered up and they have a fantastic location,” he said. “I think we’re going to fit well together.”
The second day of the event, Aug. 25 from 1 to 3 p.m., will shift the event to the Volleydome GYM on James Jones Way, near CrossIron Mills mall, where YYC Foam Wars hosted its inaugural fundraiser Dec. 23, 2018. Downey said the first event was a learning opportunity and a success, despite limited turnout – which he attributes to the fundraiser's proximity to Christmas.
“It was a great lesson for putting on a charity event and all the organizational stuff that is needed,” he said, adding he’s been applying those lessons to the upcoming event.
Downey hopes to exceed the 2018 fundraiser’s total of $600. He said, after recouping costs for supplies, insurance and rental fees, the funds will be donated to the Kids Cancer Foundation of Alberta.
“I would be happy getting $1,000,” Downey said. “I would be ecstatic if we made it to $2,000.”
Supporting organizations like Kids Cancer Foundation of Alberta is important, he said, so they are available when their services are required
“I’ve got kids of my own, and, thank goodness, I haven’t had to use their services. But, that being said, these charity organizations wouldn’t be able to operate without people donating,” he said. “If I ever needed their support, I know I’d get it in a heartbeat, but that money isn’t free and they need to get it somehow.”
Registration for the fundraiser will take place in the hour immediately before the start times – 11 a.m. on Aug. 24 and noon on Aug. 25 – and costs $20 for a single day or $30 for both days. Participants must be seven or older, and are required to bring their own blasters, non-slip shoes and eye protection. Downey added safety glasses will be available to purchase for $5.
He added parents are not only invited, but encouraged to participate, as well.
“[The event is] going to be a lot of work, but having the face painters, a brand new location and a bunch of new game supplies – I think it’s going to be quite an exciting event,” Downey said.
