What鈥檚 the significance of this number 鈥� 1,977?

Well, it鈥檚 the amount of money that was raised in a four-hour photo session Saturday with 鈥楽anta鈥� at 91原创鈥檚 Toy Traders.

It was $1,977.70, to be exact.

It just so happens to also be the year that the George Lucas movie, Star Wars, was first released.

And, ahead of the release of the upcoming Star Wars: The Last Jedi next week, toy store owner Matthew Purdy 鈥� a self-proclaimed Star Wars junkie 鈥� infused a little jedi power into this past weekend鈥檚 photo session.

Hence, it was no typical Santa Claus on the throne for pictures at the toy store Saturday afternoon.

It was Santa Vader.

And he proved incredibly popular, Purdy said, noting they took more than 700 photos with Vader and some people had to wait in line for 30 to 45 minutes to get a picture.

鈥淚 hate that in today鈥檚 organized society people should wait in line for non medical emergencies,鈥� Purdy said. 鈥淪o we kept giving out water bottles and checking on people in line. But because it was very unique event, and a charity fundraiser, people were very supportive. All the feedback was it was worth the wait.鈥�

Members of the Star Wars fan-based cosplay group, 501st Legion 鈥� Vader鈥檚 Fist, were part of a fundraising event at Toy Traders this weekend.

All proceeds going to a group of professional theatre artists 鈥� Some Assembly Arts Society 鈥� who collaborate to help youth create original plays that build awareness, education, promote wellness, and encourage dialogue.

鈥淲e normally do quite well on our fundraisers, but this has been the best,鈥� he elaborated.

In addition to hosting this past weekend鈥檚 fundraising Santa Vader photo session 鈥� and having life-sized figures from the movie and massive diaramas of the set in his store, Purdy is celebrating all things Star Wars by running a contests that will put people in seats at a sneak premiere of the movie next week.

鈥淎s most all of 91原创 knows, the entire Toy Traders family is extremely passionate about Star Wars,鈥� said Purdy, who personally saw Rogue 鈥渙nly鈥� five times in the theatre. That鈥檚 a low number on his Star Wars viewing counter.

鈥淚鈥檓 super excited,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t carries on the storyline from when I was a kid.鈥�

He鈥檚 so excited about next week鈥檚 premiere that he鈥檚 closing the store early next Thursday (in what he admits is the busiest retail month of the year for his business), and taking his entire staff to see a special showing of the movie.

鈥淭his one, I鈥檓 seeing twice opening night as I have tickets for the late show, too,鈥� he shared. 鈥淚鈥檒l watch it as many times as I can sneak away from the store.鈥�

A few select members of the 91原创 community will be able to join Purdy and the 鈥淭oy Trader family鈥� at the special fan event, Purdy said.

Not only do event goers get a chance to see the new movie before most of the world, Purdy explained. They also get to hang with fellow Star Wars enthusiasts 鈥� including dozens who come in costume 鈥� ahead of time in a mingle session in the lobby. They are given collectible cards, treated to exclusive content, and availed of special concession offerings.

But Purdy鈥檚 favourite part is hanging with some 50-plus members of the 501st Legion 鈥� a volunteer group of Star Wars 鈥渇anatics鈥� who promote the interest of Star Wars and profess their passion for the movie series by building and wearing replica costumes to raise money for charities.

Their presence in full costume at these and other events simply adds to the ambiance and the atmosphere, Purdy said, noting they were the folks who participated in the Vader Santa photo shoot at his store Saturday.

Purdy ran a ticket contest during the Vader Santa event on the weekend, and this week he鈥檚 running another.

This time, he鈥檚 offering up two sets of two tickets each for the fan event at Strawberry Hill Cinemas.

There鈥檚 no cost to enter. People just have to stop by the store, at 19880 91原创 Bypass, and enter at the front counter before the end of business Sunday, Dec. 10 to be in the draw and hopefully win a chance to be part of the exclusive opening event being held in Surrey next Thursday.