There’s nothing to get you in the Christmas spirit quite like hunting for the perfect bushy and fragrant tree to take home to decorate with baubles and lights.
That is exactly what members of the Williams Lake Blue Fins were up to on Saturday as part of their yearly Christmas tree fundraiser.
Children and adults alike headed out to a hydro line just off Highway 97 to “go on a wild tree hunt,” according to event volunteer Karla Elefson.
“We go out as a club and we cut the trees down the old-fashioned way.”
The “old-fashioned way” included a bonfire to keep the tree hunters warm, as well as a BBQ with hot dogs and snacks to keep them fuelled up for a day of hard work.
Elefson says that this year, she really had to search for a spot for the team to harvest from, since the fires impacted so much of the area. Thankfully, BC Hydro was a big help in locating a suitable area.
Rebecca Elefson is a swimmer with the club, and Karla’s daughter. Before heading out to hunt down the trees, she seemed very excited.
“It’s good because we’re getting out and we’re being active too,” she added.
They cut approximately 125 Christmas trees that, supplemented by a generous donation from Kersley Christmas Trees will be sold at Canadian Tire to save some Williams Lake residents the time of cutting down a tree on their own.
Buying a Blue Fins tree will not only save you the time of hunting for the perfect boughs to place your presents under, it will also see money going to a good cause.
Last year the swim team raised $3,000 and this year they hope to do just as well. The money raised from the Christmas tree sales will go directly towards funding equipment and travel for the team’s 75 swimmers and coaches.
The Blue Fins recently attended their very first swim meet in nine months and competed extremely well, bringing home a third place overall finish for the club. With pool closures for renovations at the Sam Ketcham Pool, the team missed about six months of practice time according to coach Chad Webb, making their performance all the more exceptional.
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A purchase of a Blue Fins Christmas tree will support more trips and competitions like this for the young and talented swimmers of Williams Lake. Thanks to sponsorship from Canadian Tire, Rona Home Centre, Broadway Rentals, Durfeld Log & Timber, Home Hardware Building Centre, BC Hydro, and Kersley Christmas Trees, you can pick up your family tree between now and Dec. 23 at Canadian Tire and support a local team this holiday season.