Cheryl Hunter is Lakeland's newest Sole Survivor.
“I'm absolutely stunned. I did have a game plan going in but so many things have to fall into place to get in front of the jury and the final three.”
The 33-year-old stay at home mom from Bonnyville showed that she can outwit, outplay and outlast her competitors, and on Saturday was voted the winner of the fourth annual Survivor Lakeland. Along with 18 other castaways, from July 14 to 18 the two teams camped out at Kiev's K Hi Youth Camp in a game that tested them physically and mentally. Each day the participants faced a number of challenges to keep from facing eviction from basketball games and obstacle courses to memory games and a pig eating competition.
Castaways also had to endure the outdoor elements, living in a shelter they built and cooking their meals over an open fire, the majority of those meals being rice.
“The hardest part this year round was the rain and the lack of food. It makes you tired and cranky and emotional. It affects your game play because you're not at your top notch,” said Hunter, who also participated in the first ever Survivor Lakeland.
The 19 were slowly dwindled down to the top three, who then had to face the jury - the seven most recently voted out castaways. It was all about girl power in this year's top three. Joining Hunter was 33-year-old Melissa Woodbeck and the youngest member of the 2015 Survivor Lakeland, 17-year-old Shaelynne Roux.
“I made it to the top seven last year, then all the way to the very end this year. I never thought I could get that far, it's a lot of work and mentally draining,” said Woodbeck.
Woodbeck is attributing some of her success to a surprise move early on in the game. Originally picked by fellow castaway Curtis Hargrove to be on his team, she believes a team swap kept her chance in the game alive.
“I got first immunity so I picked Curtis (Hargrove) and Rochelle (Persley) and they switched teams. Not-knowingly that was the best game move. Curtis wanted me to go so he took me (on his team) and was going to vote me out pretty quick, but then he went to the other team so that didn't happen.”
For Roux, it was her first year as a Survivor Lakeland castaway, but that didn't leave her at a disadvantage. The youngest competitor had a pre-forged alliance with fellow castaway and father Serge Roux, for however short time it lasted.
“It was really fun. I made it farther than my dad, that's really awesome,” said Roux.
She added, “We started on the same team and then the first night he got switched over. So he had things pre-planned and we kind of followed (the plan) but things ended up changing, he got switched over and I had to fend for myself.”
In the final hours of Survivor Lakeland, the top three made an emotional plea to the jury stating why they should be the sole survivor. After casting their votes, the jury had spoken. Hunter came out on top, taking home not just the title of Sole Survivor but also a prize of $5,000.
“I'm taking a course so I'm hoping to use (the money) to start my own business, and put some money towards my kid's education,” said Hunter, who was also named top fundraiser bringing in $4,200.
Being second to get voted out in her first year in Survivor, Hunter was determined to get further this season.
“This time, coming back three years later, I had plans and schemes and alliances. It's still luck that has to play out, and it did play out.”
After a race to find a beer can for second place, Woodbeck was successful taking home $500. While most would think it's disappointing to get to the top three and not take home the grand prize, even Woodbeck and Roux didn't mind coming in behind Hunter.
“I think Cheryl is strong, she's a good player and she deserves to win. She played so hard,” said Woodbeck. “She does deserve to win, (I have) zero disappointment.”
“Cheryl played a good game, she had me believing that she was against Melissa (Woodbeck). We had an alliance going and first vote this morning she threw that one out the window so we knew something was going on,” said Roux. “I think Cheryl deserved it. But, I was a little disappointed that (second place) came down to finding a beer.”
Hunter wasn't the only winner of the fourth annual Survivor Lakeland. Unlike the popular television show, each year participants are required to raise at least $1,000. The Survivor Lakeland committee chooses a deserving local charity to donate those proceeds to, along with funds from other moneymaking initiatives. This year, Kiev's K Hi was the recipient of over $32,000.
“There are no words, it's unbelievable. This town is so giving; it's so generous. People get their doors knocked on every year and they're still opening their wallets to support us,” said Rob Bush, Survivor Lakeland organizer.
Since its start in 2012, Survivor Lakeland has found overwhelming success. Usually held in the Town of Bonnyville, being at Kiev's K Hi on Moose Lake brought a new aspect to the competition.
“Being in a new place, Kiev's K Hi instead of being in town, it's just different elements. I think it went really good, the castaways liked it a lot better,” said Bush.
With no plan for slowing down, local non-profit groups can continue to count on the support of Survivor Lakeland. In addition to continuing to play the game at Kiev's K Hi, Bush explained there are also other plans to change up the local competition.
“We're going to keep it going bigger and better. We've thought about doing a junior under 18, we've thought about doing an all-stars Survivor, so things are in the works, we just don't know what it's going to be next year.”
For Hunter, she now joins the three previous winners with bragging rights to say she is the sole survivor. For her fellow castaways in the final three, Woodbeck and Roux, both ladies said we might see them taking another shot at Survivor Lakeland in the future.
