Keeping memories alive
Memorial washer toss tournament helps remember Michelle Curtis
The second annual Michelle Curtis Memorial Washer Toss Tournament is happening Aug. 12 and organizers hope to attract the same number of people as last year.
“Turnout was great. We had 100 people participate and about 200 people out to watch and donate money,” said Kendra Baldwin, Curtis’ sister and one of the organizers of the event.
She said they are hoping for the same success they had last year, where they raised $5,800 which was donated to the Hospice Palliative Care Society and the Breton Education Centre Scholarship Fund for students going into nursing.
“The first year was such a huge success, in our eyes, because everyone was there having fun in memory of Michelle. It wasn’t a sad time, everyone was having fun and that’s what she would have wanted,” Baldwin explained.
Curtis, a well-respected palliative care nurse, died a hero in 2015 after trying to rescue multiple children who were caught in a riptide at Broad Cove Beach near Inverness.
Baldwin cries when she thinks of the things she misses most about her sister.
“She was amazing. She was my best friend. She was the leader. In my family, she was the go-to person. She was everybody’s support. It was a huge loss for us,” she said.
“But the tournament is a way we can keep her memory alive, by donating to two charities she believed in.”
The tournament is for people 19 and over and costs $20 to register. There are trophies and T-shirts for first place, runnerup and ‘biggest loser of the day’ which is a spirit award.
Baldwin explains why they have the spirit award. “My sister wasn’t very good at washer toss but she enjoyed
“My sister wasn’t very good at washer toss but she enjoyed playing it. So we have the spirit award and give it to someone who’s out there, just having fun.” Kendra Baldwin, Curtis’ sister
playing it. So we have the spirit award and give it to someone who’s out there, just having fun. They aren’t very good but they are still out there trying.”
For more information on the tournament, to preregister or to make a donation, contact Baldwin at kendra.baldwin@mggh.org.