One lucky winner could walk away with $19,851 if they find the queen of hearts at Eriksdale’s Capture the Queen of Hearts fundraiser.
A group of local organizations launched the community-wide fundraiser last October to support their shared goals and reduce competition for donations.
“A group of individuals saw the need, as we were all competing for the same dollars,” said Donna Pool of the Eriksdale Curling Club. “We wanted to create an event that would bring people together for socialization.”
The eight participating groups — the Eriksdale Active Living Centre, Legion, Community Club, Curling Club, Métis Association, Firefighters Association, New Horizons and RogerKimLee Music Festival — will share the proceeds equally once the queen of hearts card is found. A 50/50 draw is also held each week.
The draw takes place every Thursday at 8:15 p.m. in the Eriksdale Rec Centre Curling Lounge. Ticket sales open at 6:30 p.m. and close at 8 p.m. Tickets are $2 each or three for $5, and must be purchased in person. The ticket holder must also be present to participate.
If your ticket is drawn, you’ll have the chance to choose one of the remaining face-down cards. You place a miniature queen figurine on your chosen card — if it’s the queen of hearts, you take home the full prize pot. If not, you receive 15 per cent of the evening’s ticket sales, and the rest is added to the pot.
Pool said interest in the event has grown each week alongside the jackpot. With only 22 cards remaining from the original deck of 54, the odds of selecting the queen are improving.
To date, the fundraiser has raised more than $21,000 through Capture the Queen of Hearts and 50/50 ticket sales. Each week, one of the participating groups also hosts a meat draw, with those proceeds going directly to the host organization. The Eriksdale Métis Association additionally sells cribbage boards and playing cards to raise funds.
If the queen is found in the coming weeks, the fundraiser may pause for the summer and return in the fall, Pool said.
This fall, organizers also plan to introduce floor curling nights in conjunction with the fundraiser. Updates will be posted on the Eriksdale Capture the Queen of Hearts Facebook page.
