At Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School, the Eagles/Spelqweqs rugby team always comes up with new and different ways to raise money.
In recent years, they have had sponsorships with local businesses such as FreshCo 100 Mile House, Bridge Lake Electric LTD, Exeter Valley Truck & Car Wash and Timber Mart 100 Mile House. With their help, they have raised over $5,000, however, the car wash was the most successful. They often hold concessions at their games which have made an average of around $500 total!
This year it’s their first time they have decided to recycle bottles and cans. So far, it has been very successful as they have already raised just over $600 and are hoping for more. It’s also very good for the environment!
“It doesn’t take a lot of time and it’s good for their own experience,” Kameron Taylor, the team’s coach, said.
Collecting the bottles may not be a clean job, but it’s a great team-building activity for the players to work together.
Every Wednesday during lunch, they collect bottles from each classroom using large garbage bags and then separate the cans from the bottles.
Although recycling bottles may seem like a lot of work, the players take pride in working together to achieve the common goal of raising funds for gear, equipment and out-of-town games. The next rugby game will be held in Salmon Arm from April 19 to 20.
“It’s good for people who can’t go on the trip, and it gives everyone a fair chance to be on the team,” Amelia Whiting, a member of the girls’ rugby team, explained.
Some classrooms don’t always recycle accurately, which makes it more time-consuming for the team to separate the garbage out of the bottle/can recycling bins.
The team is consistently working hard to raise money for out-of-town games, such as Prince George, Salmon Arm, Abbotsford and Vanderhoof.
A portion of the money raised will go towards team players’ traveling expenses to games held in other communities within BC. The costs can be quite significant when you consider transportation and accommodation for 40-50 people.
The team is looking forward to continuing the recycling fundraiser and coming up with more money-raising events to achieve their goals.
If you would like to donate bottles to the PSO Rugby Team, you can drop bottles off at Gold Trail Recycling and ask they be donated to the team’s account.
