THUNDER BAY – 46 teams participated to raise money to fight breast cancer in this year’s Bearskin Airlines Hope Classic, one of Thunder bay's favourite charity events which organizers say will not continue after this year.
“We've had 25 very good years and we've all been here for 25 years, which is a long time, and we have a lot of things that we want to do in our future,” said Cliff Friesen, the original sponsor of the event.
“As we are retired and we'd like to be able to travel, and this is a full-time job for people, 12 months of the year to make this event happen so it's time and we'd like to have it end on a high note, which is what it did today.”
Sue Childs, chair of the event, says that this years event has been an emotional one for her after all her years of dedication to the annual fundraiser.
"For me, it's extremely emotional because I've been on the committee for 25 years and I was the chair for 20, so it's emotional for me. It was a big decision, but it's time for a change..." she said.
“I would just like to say to all of the people in Thunder Bay and and northwestern Ontario: thank you for your pledges because it's all the people in the community that are helping this event be as good as it is.”
Over 200 women came out this weekend to see friends, have fun, and support a good cause with the money raised towards breast Cancer Research and treatment in the region, including supporting the Linda Buchan Breast Cancer Centre.
Along with the team pledges, this year funds were also raised through a penny auction.
The event was originally supposed to take place in February but was rescheduled to October due to the uncertainty of the pandemic and event chair, Sue Childs says she's happy to have everyone together again one last time.
“Last night was phenomenal,” she said. “To see people that we haven't seen and also to see the people that we see only once a year because many of the women only come out for this event. So, it's just a renewing of friendships.”
A grand total of $121,475 was raised and Childs says they couldn’t be happier with how the event turned out this year.
"We never know what the amount is until all of the pledges are in, and it's always kept secret and we never know from year to year what we're going to raise," she said.
"We always say if there's 220 curlers, we'll make $22,000, but the women go above and beyond to collect pledges, so we've done very well this year."
Friesen says he would also like to thank the community for it's support over the past 25 years.
"And I would like to say a special thank you to all of the sponsors, especially the sponsors that have been with us for 25 years and all of them that have come on board, even some new ones this year," he said. "So we're we're very, very pleased and I want to thank them for that."
