Mavis Durell donates 130 lb of pull tabs to Silver for Gold charity for childhood cancer. (Facebook/Silver for Gold)

By Angie Rolheiser

Childhood Cancer

Northeast woman donates 130 pounds of pull tabs to Silver for Gold charity

Mar 26, 2021 | 3:36 PM

A large donation of aluminum pull tabs was made this month to the Silver for Gold charity from a woman in the northeast.

The charity works in conjunction with the Small but Mighty provincial initiative for childhood cancer. The can tabs are collected for money depending on the weight.

Mavis Durell of Melfort said she started collecting pull tabs about four years ago when her granddaughter, Zarah was diagnosed with leukemia.

“Zarah will be six this July but she has had over 50 blood transfusions in her little lifetime plus all of the chemo,” Durell said.

Zarah had a recent checkup and is in the clear until June when she goes for another followup, but things are looking good right now for her

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Typically, Durell would make her donation at the Believe in the Gold Foundation walk in Saskatoon. The foundation walks held in larger centers were cancelled last fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A local walk was organized in the fall by Durell to collect pledges and raise awareness for childhood cancer.

This year’s donation of 130 pounds was made at the EcoGenX Agricultural Recycling LTD in Canora, Sask.

“Right now, they have them in a storage unit because aluminum is down in price so they are waiting for the prices to go up,” Durell said.

Over the last six years, $150,000 has been raised for research by the Small but Mighty group with over $10,000 of that coming from Silver for Gold.

According to Durell, the donation wouldn’t be possible on her own.

“Penny’s Soup and Sandwich, Drafties, Bears Den in Gronlid, Wadena Hotel and all of my friends who bring the tabs, it really helps,” Durell said.

Two years ago, she collected 65 lb which totalled about $65 or so.

“It isn’t much but it all adds up and gets to that $10,000 that has been brought in,” Durell said.

The tabs that can be donated are not just from pop and beer cans but also things such as tuna or cat food cans, as long as they are aluminum.

The collection has already started for another donation that Durell hopes to make again in the fall if the childhood cancer walks can return again.

If anyone would like to make a contribution through pull tabs, they can be dropped-off with Durell at the Co-op in Melfort.

Drop off volunteers can also be found all around Saskatchewan, and tabs can also be dropped off at any Rural Municipality office in the province.

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angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser