Pee Club. The Burning Ring of Fire. Royal Flush Number 1 - and Number 2. There is no shortage of clever puns when it comes to the Cochrane Outhouse Races, running through Historic Downtown this Saturday. “'Wipe out the competition.
Pee Club. The Burning Ring of Fire. Royal Flush Number 1 - and Number 2.
There is no shortage of clever puns when it comes to the Cochrane Outhouse Races, running through Historic Downtown this Saturday.
“'Wipe out the competition.' ‘Take no crap,' ” said organizer Karrie Peace with a laugh. “There's lots of potty humour. ”
Despite its in-the-bowl humour, the annual event - hosted by Peace's gift shop The Heavenly Outhouse - is a critical one for the town, raising thousands of dollars for the Cochrane food bank. This year, the need is greater than most: weekly food hamper requests have risen more than 20 per cent since last year because of Alberta's current economic downturn, said Carol Tapsay of the Cochrane Activettes. It costs approximately $150 per hamper to feed a family of four for a week.
“I'm hoping it's short term … they just need that short term help with food, ” said Tapsay, a volunteer with the ladies' community service group. “Hopefully we can … take that worry away from them. ”
Twisted Basil manager Caroline Connolly - whose “Twisted Sisters ” outhouse team will race for the first time this year - knows all too well the importance of emergency food. Although she lives a stable life today, she needed to rely on the Calgary food bank during a rough patch 30 years ago.
“It was a time in my life that I wouldn't have wanted to ask for help from anyone else. It certainly made the difference (to) my well-being at the time, ” she remembered. “It can happen to anybody. ”
She said the Outhouse Races are a great way to have some fun and give to a great cause at the same time.
“It brings people together, ” said Connolly. “The troubles you have on your plate, you get to let them drop for a little while. ”
The 16th annual Cochrane Outhouse Races begin at 10 a.m. Teams of four runners, plus one rider, will compete in heats until a winner takes the throne - with the fastest and funniest groups receiving prizes of $500 each. The Cochrane Posse will reach into people's pockets and “steal ” coins and family-friendly activities will continue until 4 p.m. Well-known Cochrane personality Dan Kroffat will serve as this year's celebrity announcer - with the hint of another impressive surprise VIP guest.
Peace said she's hoping Cochranites who have anything extra to spare will squeeze out whatever they can to help out their neighbours in need.
“We're really hoping the crowd comes out … when the food bank really needs the support, ” she said. “Everybody is affected - and that's when we need to help the people who need the help the most. ”
