A Pumpkin Promise began years ago; not as a named event, but as a simple Halloween idea to find the biggest pumpkins I could…something to laugh at and talk about with the neighbors until the next year’s ‘big’ find! As one of my favorite holidays, my mother also shared this same passion, if not on a larger scale! She loved Halloween and was just as excited to see what size pumpkins I could find the following year.
Over time, it became something I looked forward to each Halloween and grew to become an expected sight in my neighborhood. Local farmers would baby and grow Atlantic Giant seedlings into massive pumpkins and donate them with generous hearts; flat deck trucks, tractors, bobcats and hefty friends helped to load and unload; and finally, best friends forever, who I’m sure curse under their breath the week before Halloween when I call to ask for help with standing the beasts up and showcasing them at their finest…without this dream team, none of this would have been possible each and every year.
In 2009, the passion dimmed when my mother Marietta was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. We loved, cared and supported her through her treatments and subsequent aftercare, until her passing in November 2010. Naturally, Halloween just simply did not carry the same cheer as it had in the past…yet I continued to do it with thoughts of my mom and her smile as she would see the size of these pumpkins upon arrival. A couple years ago, I made the decision to carry this on in memory of my mother and chose to fundraise for cancer. Hence, a Pumpkin Promise was born.
Energize with Fruit De La Vie – Fundraising for CancerCare Manitoba
This October, we’re proud to come together for Breast Cancer Awareness Month through our Energize with Fruit De La Vie campaign—a collaboration between two local, women-led businesses: Energize Z Fitness and Fruit De La Vie Juice Co.
At the heart of this campaign is The Rosé, a limited-edition pink superfood smoothie created to raise awareness and support for those affected by cancer. For every smoothie sold, a portion of proceeds will be donated directly to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation. To inspire healthy living, every Wednesday purchase of The Rosé also comes with a complimentary Zumba class pass—encouraging our community to sip, move, and support the cause together.
Why CancerCare Manitoba?
CancerCare Manitoba Foundation is the only organization exclusively fundraising for CancerCare Manitoba. While CancerCare Manitoba works in partnership with Manitoba Health, some programs and services are not eligible for government funding. Your donations help bridge this gap, supporting life-saving research, patient care, treatment, and resources for Manitobans and their families living with cancer.
Each year, more than 6,000 Manitobans receive a cancer diagnosis. With cases expected to rise by nearly 50% over the next decade, your support is more important than ever.
By joining our campaign—whether through purchasing The Rosé, attending a Zumba class, or making a donation—you’re helping to change lives and change the course of cancer in our province.
Every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference.
Thank you for sipping, moving, and supporting alongside us this October.
Join the Movement: Sip for Strength. Energize with Fruit De La Vie.
________________________________________