Young actor plans run for money
A Maple Ridge boy is parlaying his success in acting into added awareness for a worthy cause
Local actor Tanner Saunders is planning a fundraiser run on Nov. 17 that will benefit Friends In Need Food Bank.
Photograph by: Sylver McLaren , TIMES
Tanner Saunders is an up and coming star of the big screen, and he hopes there will be many accolades and acting awards in his future.
He also hopes he can provide some help to people who need a leg up, by hosting a charity event in support of the Friends in Need Food Bank.
The 11-year-old Maple Ridge boy has been acting for a year and was cast as Trent in the first episode of Red Widow, which will air on ABC in January.
"That was my first major audition, and I wasn't the most confident," Tanner recalled.
But he landed the role, and subsequently "had a blast" filming on set at the University of British Columbia.
He has also been cast in a TV Movie called A Moment In Time, which will air on the Lifetime Channel.
"I played a Jewish boy named Yeesha in a bus scene and at a dinner," he explained.
Tanner has also been in about a dozen student-made and independent short and feature-length films.
"He's done everything in the industry except a commercial," said dad Steve.
He has done background work in various films and TV, as well as voice-over for Snapatoonies chil-"His go dren's DVDs.
"I really want to do a commercial," Tanner added.
The Grade 7 student at Alouette Elementary recently decided to help raise awareness and funds for Friends In Need Food Bank by hosting a charity run. The event will take place on Saturday, Nov. 17, at 10 a.m. at Alouette Elementary.
"I'm not a big fan of sports, but I do like to participate in runs and ride my bike with friends and hang out with my friend Dylan," he said.
Tanner is an empathetic and caring boy, according to mom Krista.
Tanner asks that people bring non-perishable food items to donate. The Running Room will help organize the event, and online registration is expected to be working by this weekend.
"His goal is that nobody in Maple Ridge will go without food at Christmas," said Krista, whose other son Cameron is also a young actor.
"In June he ran the 10-kilometre Ridge Meadows Hospital Fund Run. He trained three days a week for about five weeks, and although he was sore and tired some of those days, he never quit," said Krista.
He managed to raise more than $100 for the Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation.
He also took part in the Paws for Cause Walk, and sent a tweet out to a Vancouver Radio deejay, who generously donated $250.
"We have a rescue dog, so this cause is very important to Tanner," Krista said.
