For immediate release
Ottawa’s Pagan Community Fundraiser Raises Money to Help Canadian Bats
September 26, 2013
Ottawa – Witches and bats go perfectly together at Halloween. So it seems appropriate that the National Capital’s Pagan community is holding a Halloween costume ball to raise money to help the Canadian Little Brown Bat. The 15th Annual Witches’ Gathering Charity Ball will be held at the Montgomery Legion on Kent Street on October 26th, 2013. Proceeds of the event will be donated to the Canadian Wildlife Foundation’s “Help the Little Brown Bat” campaign.
“I had been hearing disturbing reports about entire colonies of Canadian bats being wiped out by an infection called white-nose syndrome,” said Witches’ Gathering head organizer Michelle Hrynyk. “The sacredness of the Earth and of all life is a core belief of Wicca and other neopagan religions. When I brought this issue to the organizers, we quickly agreed that this a perfect cause for us to support.”
Over the past 15 years, the Witches’ Gathering has donated thousands of dollars to Ottawa charities and non-profit institutions such as CHEO, the Ottawa Food Bank, the Ottawa Public Library, the Canadian Blood Services and the Bytown Association for Rescued Kanines.
“The Witches Gathering is a chance for all members of Ottawa’s pagan communities to come together for a good cause,” said Hrynyk. “But you don’t have to be pagan to have a fantastic time. Everyone is welcome!”
The event begins at 7:00pm with a ritual celebrating the pagan holiday of Samhain. Music, dancing and costume contests will follow.
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For more information on the Witches’ Gathering contact:
Elsbeth Farrell, Event Coordinator 613-221-9263 – 613-407-9263
For more information on the Canadian Wildlife Foundation’s “Help the Little Brown Bat” campaign, visit: http://www.fuellingchange.com/main/project/412/Help-the-Little-Brown-Bat