How do you turn a relatively sedate Sunday at the mall into a community happening? You hold a telethon.

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And that's just what the Okanagan Similkameen Neurological Society's Child & Youth Development Centre did yesterday when it staged its 40th annual Share A Smile Telethon at Cherry Lane Shopping Centre.

It kicked off at noon and finished at 5, and in between the action was non-stop.

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Up on the stage, perched just in front of the entrance to Save-On-Foods, guests took in performances from such diverse acts as the Princess Margaret Secondary Theatre Group, the Dance Studio in Oliver, song stylist Yanti Rowland and the Sudbury Beach Band.

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Mid-afternoon, members of the Penticton Vees, who were out in force throughout the afternoon carting groceries, opted to throw caution to the wind and reprise their show-stopping performance from the 2018 telethon.

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Back then they belted out Journey's Don't Stop Believin'. This time, we believe it was a Kanye West tune, though anyone over 40 was likely just as unsure as we. Nevertheless, the boys settled down from an early case of the jitters and gave it 110 percent.

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Special props to Liam Noble and Cade Webber, who fearlessly fronted the group and clearly had audience hearts swooning.

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Up next was the Balance School of the Performing Arts, which in no uncertain terms brought the house down with a trio of routines designed to please.

Starting with solo tap and moving on to jazz dance and ending with competitive musical theatre – which may have been the highlight of the entire afternoon – the performances were thrilling.

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According to Balance owner and instructor Ashlie Atkinson, "Today is for the students to know how important it is to perform in their community. But to me, I've always supported OSNS even when I was young."

"I remember performing at the age of 11 to support the cause. My brother went through the program in early childhood development, so our family just really appreciates what OSNS does for the community."

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But Sunday's action wasn't confined to the stage. Cool stuff was all around, including a balloon artist, a jelly bean guessing jar, and a donut wall, which is quite possibly the best game ever because it's essentially a donut giveaway machine. Yum.

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Also on hand were representatives of Area 27 Motorsports Park, who brought along a rather appealing prize.

"Anyone who makes a donation today," said Area 27's Amberlee Erdmann," is eligible to win a pro ride experience. That's five laps on the track with a professional driver in one of Area 27's 2019 Camaros."

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The relationship that seems to be forming between the track and OSNS is paying other dividends too. This summer's "Cars for a Cause" fundraiser, held at the Oliver circuit on the 1st of August, raised over $100,000.

That's serious cashola, which makes the potential for a 2020 follow-up a really big deal for all concerned.

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Ultimately the 2018 Share A Smile Telethon would raise $35,000. That's not quite up to the total of previous years, but OSNS executive director Manisha Willms looked at it in a positive light.

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"We had a couple of kids  come down today with their allowance," she said. "And we had many people who are on a fixed income, who are older, who gave us ten dollars, 20 dollars."

"And all of it is just so important. We had big donations from businesses, and those are just amazing. They're awesome. But I think the fixed-income 20 dollar donations are equally amazing. We're just so grateful for the people who do consider us with the resources they have."

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If you missed the telethon, you can still donate. Head here to do so.       

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