Rankin Inlet (Aug 16/00) - Sun, suds and water fights made for the perfect fund-raiser in Rankin Inlet.

In one of their final attempts to raise money for a trip to Vancouver, B.C. later this month, 10 exchange trip participants held a two-day car wash last week. Car washers, decked out in bathing suits and sandals, spent hours scrubbing and buffing the cars, trucks and Hondas that pulled up at the Drop-in Centre for the $10 exterior and interior wash.

"Originally, we were only taking only eight participants, but now we're fund-raising to take 10. That's why we have to do last minute fund-raising," said Jacentha Howard, who has been co-ordinating the exchange and will be travelling south with the group on Aug. 27.

"It costs $3,700 for one person to go and the fund-raising we're doing now is to pay for the final person."

Plans for the trip began two months ago when Howard received a call from a youth worker at the Ambleside Youth Centre in West Vancouver.

He wanted to bring his group north and then have Rankin youth visit them in the south.

The Vancouver youth have already come and gone. They spent five days on the land and another few in town.

"They (the Vancouver youth) had fun while they were here. They liked what they saw and learned," said Johnny Aupilarjuk, who is one of the participants.

"I'm really looking forward to our trip there. I've been to Vancouver Island before, but not the city."

In order to get to this point, the group held many teen dances, hosted bingos and bake sales and now car washes.

The YMCA's Youth Visions program also contributed funds for the exchange.

Leslie Dean, 16, who helped to supervise the day-long car wash, says she's excited about making the trip to B.C.

"Everything for our trip is planned by the other group," said Dean, who has been to Vancouver before.

"We're going mountain climbing and I'm really excited about that."

After working all summer to make this trip happen they are ready for a holiday, says Dean.