User:Randomactofpumpkins/Random act of pumpkins

What is a Random Act of Pumpkins? To put it into definition, a R.A.P. is an unselfish act by one or more persons, with the intention of igniting a positive reaction throughout a community by demonstrating the power of the human spirit and the power of optimism using carved pumpkins. The minimum amount of pumpkins is 500. The Random Act of Pumpkins was created by John and Cynthia Pringle owners of Jake by the Lake, The Life is Good Genuine Neighborhood Shoppe in Westport,Ontario. Between 2008 to 2012 over 10,000 pumpkins were carved with proceeds benefiting the Children's Wish a Foundation. Lynn Noel director of the Children's Wish was a big inspiration for this event.

In the beginning...The goal was to transform 500 pumpkins into jack o’ lanterns, raise $500 for the Children's Wish Foundation and to illuminate the village harbour, nestled on the edge of the Rideau Lake, with a sea of orange. 503 pumpkins were carved and lit up that first year and Random Act of Pumpkins was born. For its encore year in 2009, the Pringle’s doubled their efforts and went on to carve and light up 1000 pumpkins. Again, money was raised for the Children's Wish Foundation through the sales of the jack o’ lanterns. In 2010 the total number of jack o’ lantern skyrocketed to 2,350 when a Frankfurt, Ontario man, Mark Sanders, and friends joined the effort to carved 1218 of those pumpkins. Mark’s wife Julie died of cancer and he was using Random Act of Pumpkins as a means of celebrating her life.

in 2011 we carved 1000 pumpkins and decorated Westport. During that year JohnPringle and Mark each carved 500 pumpkins in under 5 hours.

in 2012 (the 5th year) we returned to our initial goal of 500 pumpkins and named the event "Reflevtions" based on a picture from the first event. This would also be our last year and in 2013/14/15 we did smaller events in our backyard for charity.

We are currently planning the next R.A.P. ( the largest to-date) for Oct 2018, which will line up with our 10th year anniversary of spreading optimism in Westport Ontario; details have not been made public yet but Westport, Ontario will be the location.

http://www.thewhig.com/2011/09/30/pumpkin-event-grows