Hope Classic reaches new milestone

THUNDER BAY - A popular bonspiel that raises money in the fight against breast cancer has reason to celebrate this year, as donations and pledges have pushed the total to new heights.

The Bearskin Airlines Hope Classic celebrated its 21^st year, which to date has raised more than $3.02 million to fight breast cancer.

“I never thought we would meet three million dollars,” said Susan Childs, chair of the Bearkskin Airlines Hope Classic Committee. “Who would have thought 21 years ago when we started this. We were going to do it for one year, we wanted to raise $5,000 for the breast cancer support group. The first year we did it, we raised $39,000 and we haven’t looked back. It’s wonderful.”

This year, the Hope Classic raised $154,000, down slightly from last year’s $180,000. But Childs said any money raised goes a long way towards helping women in Northern Ontario affected by breast cancer.

“We never know what to expect,” she said. “Our goal is, if we have 250 curlers, we know we will make $25,000 because each curler has to make a $100 pledge. We never know how it’s going to be.”

The Hope Classic was started in 1997 by Linda Buchan, who was undergoing breast cancer treatment, and Barb Crooks, a breast cancer survivor. All the money raised by the annual bonspiel stays in the region.

Childs said every year she is blown away by how phenomenal the atmosphere is, how much fun everyone has, and the amount of pledges and donations the Hope Classic receives.

“I don’t want to call it a party atmosphere, but there is so much energy and enthusiasm in the room,” she said. “There is no competitiveness. It’s not about the curling. It’s about having fun and raising money for this event.”  

And that is why people keep coming out and keep making pledges. While the Hope Classic always has its fair share of laughs, goofy costumes, and good times, it’s still about fighting a terrible disease.

“Cancer has touched everybody,” Childs said. “Whether it’s a co-worker, a family member, a friend. There is nobody that has not been touched by cancer and these women feel so strongly about raising money and trying to find a cure.”

Linda Buchan lost her battle with cancer in Dec. 2011 and the organizing committee decided to carry on what she had started. Each year, one participant is honoured with the Spirit of Linda Lou Award, which is given to someone who demonstrates some of Linda Buchan’s traits and spirit.

This year, that honour went to Liz Manahan, who was part of the first organizing committee for the Hope Classic 21 years ago.

“I was on the very first committee with Linda Buchan,” she said. “She was just an incredible person and she made all of us feel the passion that she felt. She made all of us feel how important it was. I just can’t say enough. If I thought for a minute that I had any of her traits, even a little bit, it’s an honour. It’s incredible, she is the most incredible person I have ever met.”

Manahan said the first committee was full of dedicated and driven women who wanted to help those affected by breast cancer. She said the committee today is still just as dedicated and she is pleased to see younger women becoming involved as well.

“It’s always been very rewarding to those who work on it, to see the people who want to keep doing it,” she said. “It becomes, not an obsession, but a passion that these women feel. I think they feel it from the committee, they feel it from the cause, it’s a terrific cause and it’s easy to work for it and everybody wants to work for it.”

Part of that passion came from Linda herself, who worked tirelessly to make the Hope Classic into the successful annual fundraiser it is today.

“I don’t think anyone could come near to what she was actually like, the passion and the initiative,” Manahan said. “Linda made it happen. She didn’t just say we should do this. She made it happen.”