THUNDER BAY – What happens at the Bearskin Airlines Hope Classic stays at the Bearskin Airlines Hope Classic.
And, what happens with the money raised stays in Thunder Bay.
To date, over the past 23 years, they’ve collected more than $3.3 million, a total they’ll add to by at least $20,000 next weekend when 200 women hit the ice at Fort William Curling Club for the annual fundraiser in support of the Linda Buchan Centre for Breast Screening and Assessment.
Sue Childs, who was friends with Buchan before she died in 2002 at the age of 47, has been involved with the Classic since it began.
“Linda Buchan had a vision and a dream. We built this bonspiel. It is probably one of the best community events that’s I’ve ever been involved with because it is a community event. The women work so hard to get their pledges and our sponsors are phenomenal and keep coming back year after year.”
It’s become a family, Childs said at Wednesday’s kick-off luncheon at the curling club, and it’s all for a great cause that impacts thousands of women throughout the region.
“All the money raised stays right here in Northwestern Ontario for the Linda Buchan Centre,” she said. “It’s fun ... It’s 200 women dancing, laughing, eating. It’s like a trip out of town.”
Glenn Craig, who heads the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation, says it’s a truly remarkable event that just keeps giving to help with cancer treatment and research.
It’s been invaluable, he said.
“The fact of the matter is this disease affects too many people,” he said. “I think that’s why so many people support this event. We want to put an end to this disease.”
That would suit Glenice Quesnelle just fine.
The 81-year-old spoke at Wednesday’s luncheon, remarking that she’s been a cancer survivor for 32 years.
“I’m here to represent hope,” Quesnelle said.
“You have to persevere and you’ve got to be strong. And you have to have good friends and good family – and a very good cancer clinic. I’ve never had any trouble.”
Last year’s event raised $123,000.
This year’s event takes place from Feb. 7 to Feb. 9.
Tickets for the 50/50 draw, with a first-place prize of $15,000, are on sale now and available at Fort William Curling Club and the Linda Buchan Centre.
