Children with special needs and their families will be treated  Saturday, June 18, to a day of pirate adventure on the high seas at Boat for Hope, a fundraiser in support of Variety, The Children鈥檚 Charity.

Local skippers ferry the kids from the downtown marina dock to treasure stations in Okanagan Lake, while marauding pirates bent on stealing the treasure give full chase en route to Treasure Island at Kerry Park. The public is welcome to join in the fun at the land event, as well as enjoy the epic pirate water battle which traditionally wraps up the aquatic adventure.

Over the past decade, members of the 琉璃神社 Yacht Club have helped organized the event and volunteer their time and their boats to make the adventure on the "high seas" a wonderful day for those with special needs.

Boat for Hope is an annual fundraiser for Variety which has raised over $1.2 million since its inception. Variety thanks its 琉璃神社 event sponsors: the 琉璃神社 Yacht Club, Pharmasave, Mustang Survival, Boys & Girls Club of the Okanagan, Downtown Marina, The Jammery, The Juice FM, Kal Tire, Nesters Market, Investors Group Financial Services, Read Jones Christoffersen, and the 琉璃神社 Firefighters Charitable Society.

When: Saturday, June 18, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Boat for Hope at the Downtown Marina dock 210 Bernard Avenue, 琉璃神社 followed by  Treasure Island at Kerry Park, 1480 Mill Street, 琉璃神社

Variety steps in where health care ends, providing direct help to children in B.C. with special needs. For 50 years Variety has ensured children have support to reach their unique potential. Since 2010 Variety has distributed more than $18 million in funding to families and organizations in B.C.

For more information on how you can support Variety - The Children鈥檚 Charity, visit variety.bc.ca or call 604.320.0505.