THUNDER BAY – In its first 21 years, the Bearskin Airlines Hope Classic has raised more than $3 million.
The event, which benefits breast cancer research and the Linda Buchan Centre, shows no signs of slowing down.
In 2017 the women’s-only curling bonspiel collected a record $154,000 and organizer Sue Childs said she can’t pinpoint why it’s been successful, other than the impact the money has in the community.
“Cancer touches everyone,” Childs said on Wednesday, eight days before the Feb. 8 start to the three-day event, being staged as usual at the Fort William Curling Club.
“Everybody has somebody in their family or a friend or a co-worker that has been touched by cancer. Many of the women in the event have suffered through breast cancer or are going through treatment right now. This is just a fun weekend for us all to get together, share stories, renew friendships – and we’re raising money at the same time.”
The bonspiel’s origins were modest, co-started by Linda Buchan, a well-known local curling enthusiast who survived three bouts with cancer before dying of brain cancer in 2002.
The initial ask was $5,000, which turned into $39,000 when the weekend came to a close. It’s been growing ever since.
“Linda was a very energetic, optimistic, enthusiastic person who didn’t let anything beat her, until this,” Childs said. “At the Linda Buchan Centre, with the money we’ve raised, they’re able to hire more staff, get more equipment and they’ve increased their working hours so they can do more biopsies and mammograms.”
Retired mammography technologist Shelley Colebourne said the impact of the Hope Classic is almost immeasurable over the past two decades.
“This event has been the pinnacle in providing funding and support for advancement in breast imaging in Northwestern Ontario,” Colebourne said.
“We’ve been able to update equipment, update educational skills for technologists. We have new radiologists who have come to our centre to provide world-class imaging and results for women in this area.”
The centre sees between 5,000 and 6,000 patients each year.
A total of 46 teams have been confirmed for the bonspiel. Curlers pay a $75 entry fee and are required to raise a minimum of $100 in pledges to participate.
Donations may be made online at https://www.bearskinairlineshopeclassic.com/donate-online.
