It is that time of year to fight cancer with laughter.
The Boob Tour is rolling into Innisfail on April 15, and seasoned comedians will be on hand at the Royal Canadian Legion to give a two and a half show of pure chuckles.
It is the third year in a row that the Boob Tour has come to Innisfail to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society, which in turn will support the proceeds collected during Innisfail's annual Relay for Life event.
The Boob Tour's mission is to make the difference in the lives of those affected by cancer. The organization works with more than 40 different organizations across North America to direct funding to where it is most needed.
And of course, its mantra is to fight cancer with laughter by enlisting the support of well-known comedians to perform with the goal of raising money.
Last year the show raised almost $4,000, compared to the $2,200 collected in the tour's first Innisfail stop in 2012. Trish King, the event's coordinator, said the goal for this year is to at least equal the total raised in 2013.
“We don't really have a goal set. We of course have ticket sales and a 50/50 draw,” said King, adding the show will also feature a couple of her family members having their hair cut off to donate for wigs. She said organizers are hoping to sell 220 tickets this year compared to the 185 tickets sold for the 2013 show.
As for the show itself, King does not know in advance who will be performing other than to say all the comedians brought in by the Boob Tour are top notch.
“We don't select the line up. The Boob Tour is an organization that travels throughout North America and put on these shows to help people raise money for cancer,” said King. “They choose our line up for us and just send us comedians. They don't tell us in advance. It is always fun as to whom we are getting.
“Last year we had one comedian had done comedy shows and had been on Just for Laughs. They are pretty well known comics,” she said, adding she was given a hint about one performer from Calgary. “She has been out of Calgary for the last 20 years, born and raised in Saskatchewan, and that is all I have been told.”
In the meantime, Kings said people who are interested in supporting the cause by attending the Boob Tour event need not be concerned that performances will be over-the-top raunchy.
“Some people assume it is about boobs and breast cancer. It is not. It is generally what you see when you go to a stand up show,” said King. “They are pretty clean, and there is no a lot of swearing or anything like that. It is not raunchy, not at all.”
Tickets for the Boob Tour show are $20. They can be purchased at Jackson's Pharmasave.
The doors open at 6 p.m. with the show starting at 7 p.m. The event will also feature door prizes, refreshments and a cash bar.
