The very popular annual and charitable Herring Sale returns to Steveston this weekend.
Organized by charity Fishermen Helping Kids with Cancer, the 12th annual herring sale will take place at Steveston Harbour Authority on Trites Road on Saturday, January 21 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Later this week, a few herring seiners will be fishing north of Nanaimo and, depending on the weather, they hope to catch 50 tons of tasty herring for thousands of customers in Steveston and at the other sale in Victoria.
Since 2011, commercial fishing industry has raised close to $1 million for kids being treated for cancer at BC Children’s Hospital.
Fishermen and key fish companies cover all costs of the event so 100 per cent of the funds raised at the sale go to the kids.
Approximately 150 kids in B.C. get cancer every year – 80 per cent survive at least five years, with survival depending on the type of cancer and how far the cancer has advanced at diagnosis.
“Fresh B.C. herring pays for an iPad and video game system in every room on the oncology floor,” according to Kris Nakashima, spokesperson for the fishermen.
“There is a big game library, music systems, snacks, toys, books, laptops, musical instruments, videos, Netflix and Disney+, special food and gifts for kids in the hospital over Christmas, and more.
“Chemo, radiation and surgery is tough on adults, let alone kids, so we do what we can to make kids more comfortable while they are at the hospital.”
