Spell Gobbledygook, that’s just one of the words that could be used at the fourth annual Moncton Regional Learning Council Spelling Bee fundraiser.

It’s an adult-based event, with judges, where teams of three compete in a traditional style Spelling Bee.

All of the funds raised go to support Literacy in the province.

Board President Sheila Bennett says, “The Moncton Regional Learning Council tutors adults from ages 16 to 106 that have low literacy levels in the Southeast Region of New Brunswick. The issue is a lot bigger than most might think. About 50 percent of New Brunswickers have below-average literacy skills. That means while some might be able to read a restaurant menu, they might not be able to read the instructions on a prescription bottle.”

The Bee will be held Wednesday, May 17 at the Dan Bohan Centre in Riverview, starting at 6:30 pm.

There is still space for teams who would like to take part, and you can register right up until Wednesday evening,

“The reigning champions are three Town Counsellors from Riverview. Last year, they kind of blew away the competition. I’m looking forward to seeing if they are able to take up the challenge again this year,” Bennett says.

The best way to register is on the Moncton Regional Learning Council website or Facebook page.

“It’s truly a fun event, and everyone ends up having a really good time. It’s pretty eye-opening for a lot of people especially when they find out what the state of Literacy is in New Brunswick and the fact it hasn’t changed over the past decade. We’re trying really hard to bring awareness to the situation because Literacy impacts so much more than just being able to read a book. I think it brings awareness of what people go through when they’re struggling to be able to read,” Bennett says.