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SYDNEY — Nearly two dozen community leaders in Cape Breton are being exiled to the Fortress of Louisbourg today, in order to help children diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses through a fundraising event based on the reality TV show Survivor.

Exile Island, the Children’s Wish Foundation’s major fundraiser in Nova Scotia, has been held twice on George’s Island in Halifax harbour and is making its Cape Breton debut this week, with the money raised staying in Cape Breton.

The reality is that the Children’s Wish Foundation annually helps about 900 children across Canada from 3-18 years old and needs financial donations from the public to do that. That’s where the community leaders come in.

Exile Island features rival tribes of business and community leaders calling friends, family and colleagues to raise donations that will help the Children’s Wish Foundation and, hopefully, save the participant from exile.

The foundation has seven children in Cape Breton waiting for a wish to be granted, said Cheryl Matthews, Nova Scotia chapter director, adding the fundraising event’s goal is to raise enough money to cover three wishes.

Co-chaired by Cape Breton Explorations president Luciano Lisi and Cape Breton University president John Harker, the event will see participants compete in a variety of challenging mental and physical contests and try to collect the largest amount of pledges.

In addition to Lisi and Harker, participants include accountants John Nash and George Unsworth, farmer Chris Eyking, Mayflower Mall general manager Paul Carrigan, Cape Breton Regional Police Chief Myles Burke, Membertou First Nation Chief Terry Paul, and CBU students’ union president Ricky MacCarthy, among others.

Matthews said Cape Breton Post publisher Anita DeLazzer recorded the first online donation. As of Tuesday morning, she also led the pack with the most donations.

Matthews said wish kids and their families will be present but spectators won’t be allowed into the Fortress of Louisbourg for the event. However, anyone can take part by making a donation on the event website where they can immediately get a tax receipt.

Matthews said participants will be divided into three tribes for the competitions and declined to reveal the kinds of challenges they will face, except to say they should be dressed comfortably.
“They’re all CEOs and managers and it’s very interesting to watch them try to compete as a team,” she added. “It’s an afternoon of the highest philanthropy, but it’s also a lot of fun.”
For more information or to make a donation, visit www.exileisland.ca and click on Cape Breton on the map.