Hundreds unite in new Langley cancer fundraiser
This article was written by Roxanne Hooper and originally published by the Langley Advance Times.
Twins Cancer Fundraising have been long-time supporters of enhancing cancer care at Langley Memorial Hospital. We are grateful for their continued partnership with Langley Community Health & Hospital Foundation in their new event!
There’s never been an event quite like it before, of that much twin brothers Chris and Jamie Ruscheinski are convinced.
The Langley philanthropists, well known for hosting entertainment-based cancer fundraisers that have raised more than $6 million for the cause during the past 20 years, are working with a team of some 200-plus volunteers to organize a new, first-ever charity event.
It’s called Gone Country Jamestown 2025.
“Picture Westworld meets Nashville,” said Chris, noting the Saturday, June 7, event is being hosted at an old-west movie set on the Macinnes Farm in the twins’ hometown of Langley. The 100-acre farm is the home of Jamestown Studio, where the TV series “When Calls the Heart” is filmed, as well as Locality Brewing, whose owners have arranged for a special event permit to host the fundraiser.
For one special evening, an anticipated 2,200 spectators will be permitted to roam through this old-west style town, walk the streets of Jamestown, move from building to building/room to room, enjoying food and beverages, plus take in some of the bigger country music headliners on the main stage.
While the line-up for much of Jamestown is expected to be released this week, Chris acknowledged the headliners will be kept a secret until the night of the event.
He hinted that the performances will be “Gone Country caliber,” but said they want this event to feature a real element of surprise.
“As we get closer to announcing the bands, actors, artists, and the numerous local businesses all coming together to bring Gone Country Jamestown to life, I want to give you a heads up that all three main stage bands will be a surprise…I promise you’ll love our main stage surprise guests.”
He noted that award-winning Langley singer-songwriter Karen Lee Batten, also an industry promoter, has been compiling a “mind-blowing” stack of entertainers for the main stage, as well as for each of the rooms that guests can visit between acts.
“We have almost 40 actors doing popup performances throughout the night. It’s all meant to surprise our guests with a little extra between main stage acts,” Chris elaborated.
“We have brought so many of Langley’s best businesses to collaborate with each other. We have an old-west winery, brewery, distillery, cidery and bake shop, cantina, comedy house, whisky bar, casino, general store, and more, mostly with a musician performing in each room,” he noted.
“We may have gotten a little carried away,” Chris said with a chuckle. “But we want this to be an experience our cancer-fighting guests will not forget.”