By Jackie Doming
“There’s nothing more fun than being able to shoot your friends.”
Bianca Pengelly, Manitoba’s Regional Coordinator with the Canadian Liver Foundation, isn’t a proponent of violent activity in our city. She’s promoting an upcoming charitable Airsoft tournament at Xtreme Tactics to raise money for crucial patient support and research funding.
A large population in Winnipeg lives day-to-day suffering from liver disease. Such diseases are also prominent in the Filipino population. As of 2011, hepatitis B (known as the silent infection) affects approximately 16 million people in the Philippines, and 3.48 million Filipinos are also living with hepatitis C.
Xtreme Tactics recently held an event to fundraise for Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts. They will be donating their services towards the upcoming Canadian Liver Foundation tournament.
“This is the first time that the Canadian Liver Foundation will be doing this type of event,” said Pengelly. “I have a personal relationship with the gentleman who owns the place. He had suggested it, and he’s very big on helping out.”
Pengelly enjoys investing her time and energy into the Foundation – and not just because it’s her job.
“I myself was diagnosed with liver disease when I was a child. I had a liver transplant when I was an infant. I started volunteering with our chapter a couple years ago, because I simply wanted to be a part of it. I wanted to give back to what was given to me. This is my dream job.”
Pengelly is also handcrafting bracelets made out of parachute cord to raise additional funds for the organization. The paracord bracelets will be made in blue and yellow to represent liver disease. Each bracelet will cost $10.00, and will be available at the tournament and Foundation office (210-375 York Ave. – RBC Convention Centre).
