Nine restaurants in Kamloops are creating their own cocktails to support the Give Cancer The Finger for the month of November (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

GIVE CANCER THE FINGER

Kamloops restaurants creating unique cocktails to support cancer fundraiser

Nov 6, 2019 | 1:51 PM

KAMLOOPS — Give Cancer The Finger is putting a new, tasty twist on its latest fundraiser.

The foundation’s co-founders have teamed up with local restaurants to raise money in a unique way, asking each to come up their own cocktail to support the cause.

“We have nine restaurants in town that have all gotten on board to make their own version of the Fermented Finger,” said co-founder of Give Cancer The Finger Derek Strokon. “It’s a craft cocktail made with Forager vodka, which is a local company.”

One dollar from every drink sold this month will go to Give Cancer The Finger. The organization is into its fourth year and officially became a foundation in May. After raising $60,000 in its first three years, the foundation wanted to step it up. The co-founders reached out to restaurants, which were all happy to participate.

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“Derek came in and told us about his passion behind the project and what he was trying to do, and it was an instant ‘yes,'” said Carla Donnelly, the food and beverage manager at Cordo, the new restaurant and bar inside the renovated Delta Hotel on Victoria Street.

Donnelly has a personal connection to the cause. Her mom is a breast cancer survivor.

“She’s 10 years a survivor now and she had a pretty ‘fun’ go of it. She had chemo and radiation for about 18 months, so it was a long road.”

The proceeds from the drinks and other Movember initiatives by the foundation will go towards its goal of raising $1 million and building a cancer supportive care centre.

“Our goal is to open this cancer supportive care centre in Kamloops to help, not necessarily with just the cancer care during treament, but what happens after treatment?” Strokon asked. “What happens after somebody has survived cancer? How do we help them re-integrate into the community.”

Another participating restaurant, Forno on Fifth, is on board to help. The staff loves how the industry is coming together for such an important initiative.

“I’m really excited there are so many restaurants in town that are taking part in it,” noted restaurant manger at Forno on Fifth Sara Hanrahan. “It really feels like a big community effort.”

Forno on Fifth is putting a twist on the classic cosmopolitan.

“You obviously get that vodka, cranberry flavour within there as well. You have a herbaciousness of the thyme and the basil and a little bit of sweetness,” said Hanrahan. Every drink uses Forager vodka, a win-win all around as Give Cancer The Finger Foundation tries to inch closer to the goal.

PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS

Alchemy Brewing

Cordo Resto + Bar

Earls

Forno On Fifth

Masons Kitchen and Bar

Mittz Kitchen

The Noble Pig

Storms On The River

Twisted Olive

You can vote on your favourite drink at Give Cancer The Finger’s website. There are also tickets available for the foundation’s wrap-up on Nov. 28 at Shark Club.