THUNDER BAY — The date of the Great Lighthouse rescue is fast approaching and fundraising teams are getting ready to be stranded out at the lighthouse for a good cause.
Many teams of representatives from agencies that work with and support the United Way are getting ready for the big day, including Dougall Media’s own team made up of members of its news team.
TBT News anchor Riley McManus was quick to sign on to the rescue mission and said that she’s always been a fan of the old billboard rescue events.
“We haven't really had anything to raise money for that charity so much in the last few years because of COVID, I think it's kind of exciting and that it's a different aspect of it,” she said.
“That it's about being rescued in a lighthouse, instead of it being the billboard rescue and it's something I had watched and followed and kind of was a bystander before, so, it’s something very exciting to be part of now.”
Joining McManus out at the lighthouse is TBT sports anchor Kurt Black, who said that he was excited to be able to help such a good local cause.
“In my two years here in Thunder Bay, I’ve seen first-hand, just how much good the local United Way does for the community,” he said. “So, it was a very easy decision to get involved. I am very much looking forward to getting rescued next week”
Never one to be left out, Newswatch’s own regional reporter Justin Hardy decided to join his Dougall Media colleagues, citing his own wish to help one of the region’s communities that he loves to work in.
“Through working in and around the community, you meet people from all walks of life and really get the chance to see how important organizations like the United Way are,” he said. “It was very important for me to help in any way I could and participating in the Great Lighthouse Rescue felt like a great way to do that.”
Joining the rescuers is Honorary Captain "Rock the Boat" Ted Jessop from Rock 94, who’s more than excited to be joining the rescue crews as they save stranded volunteers.
Jessop's own donations page flips the script on the event and will actually keep him stranded at the lighthouse. Donate to Ted’s campaign to leave him stranded at the lighthouse for an extra stretch of time, with the more funds donated — the longer he stays.
“I'm excited to be involved in the in the lighthouse rescue and I'm excited to work with such a great organization like the United Way of Thunder Bay,” said Jessop.
“I'm not so excited about all the dock spiders that might be out by the lighthouse, but hopefully our Rock 94 listeners could rally together and leave me out at the lighthouse for a good long time, but not too long. I want to sleep in my bed on Wednesday night.”
To support Dougall Media’s rescue team, visit their fundraising page, or to donate directly to the United way and to find out more ways to help, visit their website.
As a part of the fun, supporters can also choose to donate and leave castaways stranded in the harbour with Captain Ted for a stretch of time. Click here to learn more.
