From a paperclip, to an $1,100 Okotoks Recreation Centre family pass, and more yet to come — an Okotoks youth is trading up to support charity in memory of a friend.
Starting with one red paper-clip, 10-year-old Evan Thachuk has conducted a series of trades with businesses in town in the hope of eventually bartering for a big-ticket item he can sell and donate the proceeds to the Max Robinson Children’s Foundation.
Over a series of 10 trades Thachuk has turned his paper clip into an $1,157 family pass at the Okotoks Recreation Centre and Natural High Fitness.
He hasn’t set his eyes on anything particular, except to see how big his trades can go. Thachuk would like to be able to trade up for something that will sell for at least $10,000.
“It’s just to raise as much money as we can in the community of Okotoks,” he said.
He got the idea from a series of trades by Kyle MacDonald, a blogger who traded a red paper-clip and over a series of deals bartered for a house in Kipling, Sask.
“I saw it on YouTube one day and I was like, hey this would be pretty cool,” said Thachuk.
It took him six days to go from a paper clip to the rec centre passes.
Thachuk traded the paper clip for a Canada Me to We bracelet at 7-Eleven. He took the bracelet to 3G Embroidery, where he was able to trade it for a water bottle, which he then traded for hand lotion at Finishing Touches. Thachuk took the hand lotion across the street to School House Pets where they traded it for a dog dish. Shoppers Drug Mart then traded the dog dish for a music keyboard, which Thachuk was able to trade for a $98 clock at Red Barn.
Thachuk took the clock to Austen Jewellers, where it was traded for a pair of gold earrings. He wasn’t able to find anyone willing to trade for the earrings, so Austen Jewellers gave him a wallet instead. Thachuk took the wallet to Costco, where they declined a trade but donated $150 worth of gift Costco cards.
Thachuk took the wallet and gift cards to the Okotoks Recreation Centre where he traded them for an annual family pass to both the recreation centre and Natural High Fitness, valued at $1,157.
Thachuk said he doesn’t know how long he will keep trading, but he wants to be able to make a sizable donation in honour of his friend Max Robinson.
“Max passed away two years ago from ecoli and his parents started running a foundation for him,” he said. “So, every year on June 11 two days before his death anniversary they get together a big group of family and friends, and everybody and they throw a golf tournament, mini golf for the kids and regular golf for the adults.”
Funds raised by the foundation go to the Alberta Children’s Hospital and to establish scholarships in Okotoks. Once the foundation raises $100,000 a plaque will be installed in Max’s honour at the hospital in Calgary.
Marty Sugai, operations manager 3G Embroidery, said it’s great to hear how far the trades have gone.
“You never know, see where it goes,” he said. “That’s really cool.”
Sugai was Thachuk’s second trade, swapping the bracelet for a water bottle.
He first offered a T-shirt or a jacket, but he said Thachuk preferred the water bottle.
“The water bottles were at the front door and he said ‘how ‘bout this,’” said Sugai.
It was a good trade on his side as well, he said the bracelet went to his business partner’s granddaughter.
“It’s fascinating on how it all got passed around,” said Sugai.
Anyone interested in making a trade with Thachuk can call or text 403-618-6243.
