THUNDER BAY – The Tuokkola family will be cruising around the city in a brand new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, after winning the top prize in this year’s Save a Heart Car Raffle.
A ticket, with the name G. Tuokkola, was drawn from the prize drum at Thunder Bay Mitsubishi, who donated the $36,500 vehicle in support of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s $14-million campaign to bring cardiovascular surgery to the hospital.
This year’s raffle, the first of three the dealership plans to donate to, raised a total of $63,696, money that will go a long way toward helping the Thunder Bay Regional Health Science’s Foundation reach its target.
“The Witiluk family has been with us all along. They’ve been tremendous supporters of the hospital, especially cardiac care, and I really want to underscore that this is a donated vehicle. We did not have to pay for this,” said foundation CEO Glenn Craig.
“Usually when you see car raffles, sometimes charities get a deal, maybe a bit of a break. But they are giving this vehicle outright. That’s why we’ve been able to raise an incredible $65,000 with this raffle.”
The impact is huge, Craig added.
“Everybody in this town knows somebody who has had to go out to Toronto, Ottawa or Hamilton for care,” he said. “We’re bringing that care close to home.”
Count Ryan Witiluk, among those who know the emotional toll it takes to send a loved one away for cardiac care.
Witiluk, whose family owns Thunder Bay Mitsubishi, Balmoral Park Acura and J&J Sports, said it’s tough to experience.
“Both my grandpa and my father had to travel for open-heart surgery down east and the experiences weren’t good for families,” Witiluk said.
“It wasn’t good for them. It was hard on everybody. So when this came available we wanted to be a part of it in some way and this is what we decided.”
Future draws will include a package from J&J Sports and the third and final installment of the family’s $200,000 commitment will be a draw for an Acura vehicle.
Louis Nadin took home the second-place prize, a return trip for two to any Porter Airlines scheduled destination, a $2,500 value. The third-place prize, an entertainment packed worth $1,241, was won by Roseanne Simeoni.
