When last we visited, we were in the process of putting the finishing touches on the 10th edition of The Daily News Christmas Cheer Fund.

Well, what an adventure it has been to get here from there.

And I am here today to tell you that your Christmas Cheer Fund’s total this time around topped out at $82,626.

That is just shy of the record $83,736.74 of the previous year and brings the 10-year total to $476,827.68.

All of which is unbelievable and more than anyone could have dreamed for when the fund was launched in November 2002.

So . . . what was the delay this time?

Well, Tim Labermeyer and the gang at Walmart have been on board with us for a number of years and always come through in grand style — or five-grand style, in this case.

In the Walmart world, the Kamloops store is No. 3040. The store in Kapuskasing, Ont., is No. 3041. As is frequently the case when a business the size of Walmart gets involved with something like your Christmas Cheer Fund, the final cheque has to be cleared somewhere higher up than here. In this instance, that happens to be in Mississauga, Ont.

Once the cheque was cut, it ended up going to store No. 3041.

And by the time the mistake was realized and the cheque made its way to Kamloops — by snail mail, don’t you know — it was Monday of this week.

But, hey, it’s here and that’s all that matters.

Thanks to Tim and all our friends at Walmart who did a lot of in-store fundraising to help us out, as they usually do. They have turned into great friends of your Christmas Cheer Fund.

The arrival of the final cheque meant the elves were brought back from semi-retirement — hey, just kidding, girls! — and have been able to complete the counting and recounting, and checking and checking again, and the figures are now all in order. While they were counting, they discovered one cheque that didn’t belong — hey, it happens! It was sent along to its intended destination, the circulation department.

When they were done and Jo-Ann, the head elf, had double-checked everything, they presented the final figure of $82,626.

This time around, the proceeds of your Christmas Cheer Fund will be shared equally by six local charities — the Boys & Girls Club of Kamloops, Family Tree Family Centre, Kamloops Food Bank, Marjorie Willoughby-Snowden Hospice Home, New Life Mission, and YMCA-YWCA 'Y' Women's Emergency Shelter.

The next step is for us to get six cheques cut, each for $13,771, then make calls to representatives of each charity and bring everyone together for a presentation. Watch for a picture from that grand event in the near future.

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When last we visited, there was mention of a vase containing a whole lot of loose change having been dropped off by Walter Trkla on behalf of his grandsons. Well, the elves counted and counted and counted and found that it contained $80.68.

We also heard from more old friends and are pleased to be able to pass along their names today. It also is only fitting that the last listing includes Anonymous, because good ol’ Anonymous is vitally important to the Christmas Cheer Fund. A big thank you to all who donated anonymously — and you know who you are.

That’s it from here, folks. We’ll see you in November.

Hey, that’s only nine months away!

TODAY'S CHEER

Mason, Marcus and Mikolas $80.68

Edith Pletzer $50.00

Anonymous $100.00

Mary Jane and Ralph Finch $100.00

Tim Dalin $100.00

Anonymous $25.00

Anonymous $50.00

High Octane Comics and Collectibles $9.49

Anonymous $100.00

Anonymous $50.00

Walmart $5,000

TODAY'S CHEER $5,665.17

PREVIOUS TOTAL $76,960.83

OVERALL TOTAL $82,626.00