Mike Lockey from Mark’s Work Wearhouse in Orangeville is teaming up with Geoff and Faye Del Grande, owners of Access Fitness, to raise funds for the Weekend Walk to End Women’s Cancer in September.

Mike and his sister Amanda have recently been personally affected by cancer in their family. It was this event that spurred on their campaign to raise money for this cause.

Mark’s Work Wearhouse and Access Fitness began fundraising mid-February and have raised over $6,000 to date. They are selling 50/50 raffle tickets at $2 each, as well as cancer bracelets and pins.

“With the breast cancer stuff the pink is really cool,” said Mike Lockey, Sales manager and corporate sales manager at Mark’s.

“But a lot of guys wont wear the pink bracelets and the pink pins and that type of thing.”

In response to this, Mr. Lockey said they found the solution in black pins, with the words ‘Cancer Sucks’ in gold lettering.

“Because of the store (Mark’s) we’ve got a lot of access to a lot of promotional suppliers,” said Mr. Lockey. “We can have all that stuff custom made.”

Pins and bracelets cost $5 each. Almost 100% of the sales of the bracelets and 70% of the pins go directly to the charity.

“With the bracelets and everything, merchandise wise, really affordable to buy and you can raise a lot of money with it and create a lot of awareness,” said Mr. Lockey.

Mark’s Work Wearhouse and Access Fitness have created events to promote awareness for their cause.

On May 6, employees from Mark’s and Access Fitness will be doing a dry run of the 60K Weekend walk at Mark’s.

“We’re all going to take turns on the treadmill and do half an hour jaunts each over the course of the day,” said Mr. Lockey.

Access Fitness will provide the treadmill that will be brought to Mark’s store. Anyone in the community who would like to volunteer their time is welcome to come and walk, jog or run on the treadmill. According to Mr. Lockey there is still nine hours worth of spots to fill.

“We have a gentleman that’s been growing his hair for six years now for cancer,” said Mr. Lockey.

At the end of the day, when we hit 60K, we’re going to cut his hair off.”

Access Fitness will be having a group fitness class on Saturday, April 24.

“We’re doing an event here called Double Trouble,” said Geoff Del Grande, owner of Access Fitness, “which is a couple of personal trainers doing

special class on April 24.”

Admission is by donation. Faye Del Grande and one of the other personal trainers at Access Fitness will be in charge of the workout.

Mark’s has also bought t-shirts that Mike, Amanda and the Access Fitness team will be wearing at every event they have as well as on the day of the run.

Spots on the back of the shirts are being sold to local businesses. A minimum donation of $250 will get their logo on the back of these shirts.

“Because Mark’s bought the shirts, every single dollar we raise from those shirts is going 100% straight to the charity,” said Mr. Lockey.

Nine spots have been sold but there are still lots of spots available. To date the shirts have raised roughly $2000.

Merchandise will be sold at both stores.

For more information on purchasing a spot of the shirts or information on events to come, call Mike Lockey at (519) 942-1003 or Faye Del Grande at (519) 940-0300.