It was the biggest fundraiser of the year on Saturday night for the Big Brothers Big Sisters chapter in Lacombe.

Twenty-one teams participated in Bowl for Kids Sake, a Nintendo Wii bowling tournament at the Lacombe Memorial Centre, which saw many dress up in colourful outfits for the night’s 80s theme.

Executive director Crystal Zens was happy to see so many attend, where they could meet the youth volunteers who’ve gone through the organization’s mentoring programs.

“It’s amazing that they believe in the power of our programs and our mentoring,” Zens said. “All the proceeds stay local. Everything we raise goes to help local kids in our communities.”

Combined with six other similar events held at local schools over the last week, the charity hoped to raise $60,000 -- which would cover a significant chunk of the organization’s operating budget.

Big Brothers Big Sisters pairs youth with an older mentor. The arrangement helps kids by providing them with a role model that can offer advice and companionship.

For more than three years, Krystal Huebl and 14-year-old Ryan Cosman have enjoyed a friendship that started as a mentorship.

Their activities together include snacking on ice cream or cookie dough. In between, they talk about life, work and dreams.

It's said that the mentor gains just as valuable of an experience as the one being mentored, and in this case, the connection Huebl and Cosman have found has been meaningful to both.

"It's so important to me. I feel like I can tell Ryan everything. He respects me and we just converse really well," Huebl said.

Cosman adds, "I like to have conversations with people person-to-person and it's super-easy to do that with Krystal. She's easy to talk to and she listens."