The annual Fleet Diving Unit turkey fundraiser took a slightly different form this year, but the result blew everyone out of the water.

The Canadian NavyB次元官网网址檚 deep sea divers combined to ride nearly 1,500 kilometres last Saturday B次元官网网址� on stationary bikes situated at LangfordB次元官网网址檚 Millstream Village B次元官网网址� and brought in more than $21,000 for the Westshore Christmas Hamper Fund.

B次元官网网址淥ur goal was to raise $15,000 to put a turkey on everyoneB次元官网网址檚 table,B次元官网网址� said Lt. Walter Dubeau, the unitB次元官网网址檚 training officer and one of the organizers of the event. B次元官网网址淲e were quite amazed, because it was a really slow start for us.B次元官网网址�

The divers garnered support from various parts of the West Shore community, from individuals to businesses. The folks from Everything Wine nearby ran a fundraiser barbecue on site, and McDonaldB次元官网网址檚 operator Ken Taylor dropped in with a cheque for $1,500.

B次元官网网址淚t was definitely the West Shore pulling together,B次元官网网址� Dubeau said.

There was a definite element of spectacle during the event. Dubeau himself clambered into a heavy diving suit and rode the bike for a while, as did a few others.

One team member even donned a diving helmet and dry suit and plunged under about 10 feet of water to ride a stationary bike submerged on the bottom of a portable 3,000-gallon dive tank trailered in for the event.

Known as the Navy Divers Turkey Run in previous years, the fundraiser was converted in 2014 when organizers couldnB次元官网网址檛 secure the support of the RCMP to run interference for runners on the roads. They did part of the run at Belmont secondary last year, but Dubeau said having all of the activities centred in one place this year made for a less scattered effort.

Gayle Ireland, president of the Westshore Christmas Hamper Fund Society, which takes over the Goldstream Food Bank space under the Royal Canadian Legion in Langford in December, said the money raised by the divers goes a long way toward rounding out the hampers for local families in need.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 such a blessing to have that team of dedicated divers do what they do for us,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲ithout their support we couldnB次元官网网址檛 give as generously as we do.B次元官网网址�

The donation will go toward the purchase of such things as Thrifty Foods gift cards to help families purchase items not provided in the hampers, such as turkeys. As well, they help cover the cost of Walmart gift cards for teens, and toys for younger children.

B次元官网网址淲e know thereB次元官网网址檚 going to be more funds coming in (during the month of December), but this gives us a good base,B次元官网网址� Ireland said.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com