Beaconsfield's Susan Vachon chose the latter route and after being elected last year as Fundraising Director for the Beaconsfield Kirkland Ringette Association (BKRA), she organized a charity game to raise money for juvenile arthritis research, an affliction her now 12-year-old daughter was diagnosed with as a toddler.
“We had been around for 31 years and had never done a charity event,” said Vachon of the 255-member organization. “Last year we had our very first charity game and raised $700.”
Recognizing the reality that a host of illnesses would benefit from fund raising, BKRA this year is challenging the Pointe Claire ringette team players, coaches, and assistant coaches, to a friendly competition in hopes of raising money to help the Montreal Children's Hospital build a new state-of-the-art facility.
Vachon wanted to raise money for a number of childhood illnesses but wasn't sure where to focus. “We were in contact with the Montreal Children's Foundation,” she said, “and they recommended the campaign to help build the new hospital.”
A minimum $10,000 donation to the campaign will have the contributor's name symbolically printed on a shovel and added to the founder's wall of fame currently located at the hospital's Tupper Street location. Though the team has up to three years to raise the amount, Vachon is confident that it won't take the entire time frame. “I don't think we're going to have a big challenge with that.”
Helping out at the event will be 11-year-old Kirkland resident Alexa Fitzwilliam, this year's spokesperson for the MCH Pedal for Kids campaign and herself, currently in remission from bone cancer.
“These fundraisers are a great way to bring the community together to raise money for the new Children's Hospital and to let people know where their money goes,” said Fitzwilliam. Besides purchase of diagnostic equipment like MRIs, Fitzwilliam also has an insider perspective of what hospital patients need to make their stay more comfortable and speed up recovery. “(Patients also need) new pillows, single rooms when we have to sleep there and more colorful decorations on the walls!”
BKRA is a nonprofit organization with players ranging in age from four to 20. Its goals include promoting the importance of community and teaching community values.
“I would like to stay with the Montreal Children's because our association is all about kids,” Vachon said. “If we can continue helping kids heal faster so they can come out and play sports like ringette, that's what I'd like to do for many years to come.”
The Nov. 27 event, which also features door prizes, face painting and a ring toss, will take place at the Kirkland Arena, 16950 Hymus Blvd. from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The entrance fee is $5 for adults, $3 for kids aged 18 and younger.
