Hope continues

Events like the Hope Classic showcase how powerful a supportive group can be in the fight against cancer, said a participant of the annual bonspiel.

The 15th annual Bearskin Airlines Hope Classic curling tournament concluded at the Fort William Curling Club on Sunday. The Hope Classic raised $185,000 this year in support of breast cancer research up from $169,000 from last year. The fundraising event has raised more than $2.6 million since it first started 15 years ago.

About 64 teams competed in the bonspiel, which divides teams by the skill levels of the players.

Susan McConnell and her team curled for the first time at the bonspiel. The team formed to support McConnell’s sister-in-law, Yvonne. Doctors diagnosed her with breast cancer last year.

"As a group of women, we decided that this was an opportunity to show our support for breast cancer research and Yvonne," McConnell said. "I’ve never had breast cancer but women are pillars. We support each other and these kinds of events just show how powerful we can be as a group."

With her first tournament now under her belt, McConnell said she would be happy to return next year.

Shelley Kallos on the other hand has competed in the tournament for the full 15 years, but other than the Hope Classic she doesn’t curl any other time of the year. She admitted she didn’t even remember what the main reason was why she joined in the first.

"I really enjoy it, it’s for a good cause," Kallos said. "It’s mostly for fun but on the side but we raise all this money and it stays in Thunder Bay for breast cancer research and breast cancer funding."

Kallos, who works at the Linda Buchan Centre, spoke at the closing ceremonies and illustrated the where the money went to. She said the money raised last year went toward a new breast MRI coil.

The most important fact for her was that all the funds stay in Thunder Bay and help women who are in the community and in the hospitals.

Sue Childs, chair of the Bearskin Airlines Hope Classic Committee, said she never would have thought they could have raised that amount of money.

"Never ever would I have expected that much," Childs said. "Last year was $169,000 and you never really know because there is no indication from anybody. The women have fun and they work hard for it."

She said the bonspiel was a success and announced that next year the Hope Classic would again fall on the Family Day long weekend. After 15 years, Childs said she still doesn’t know for sure what makes the Hope Classic a success but she’s glad it is what it is.

"It’s really hard to explain but the women come here, they raise money through pledges and when they get here it just becomes a wonderful weekend," she said. "There’s no competition, everyone is friendly, everybody is out there having fun…it’s bizarre. I love it."

The money raised will go towards the Northern Cancer fund at the Regional Health Sciences Foundation.