Road hockey helping out in a big way
Because You Care Cup nets $60,584 for hospital foundation
Tanya and Sam Gracie are repaying a debt to the community. And they’re having fun, too. The mother and son were participants in this year’s fourth annual Because You Care Cup road hockey tournament, which raises money to support services at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital.
Tanya Gracie said she understands the importance of being at home while battling illness and wants everyone to be afforded the same comfort.
“In May 2014, I was diagnosed with bladder cancer at just 38 years old,” said Gracie, while stepping off the temporary rink. “While I was a patient I got to stay home in my own community while I was receiving treatments. I didn’t have to leave my children. My husband had actually been a patient years ago at the cancer centre as well, so it is very important in our household to give back.”
With his own mother in mind, Sam Gracie began a fundraising drive in his Bras d’Or community that included gathering pledges from local businesses, along with asking family and friends to donate their recyclables.
By Saturday, Sam’s team, Hattie’s Heroes, had already raised some $2,000 for the cause. By the end of the weekend, he had personally raised more than $1,800, while his team pulled in $4,400 and was crowned the 2017 Because You Care Cup champions.
His mother says Sam’s fundraising prowess has been recognized as he has been named a “game-changer” by the Sydney Credit Union as part of an upcoming radiothon in support of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation.
“You have to help people so they don’t have to leave home to go get hospital treatment,” said 10-year-old when asked about his philanthropy.
Proceeds from this year’s road hockey tournament, presented by AuCoin Renovations Ltd. and Advanced Insulation Services, will support the purchase of two EEG machines for the neurology department at regional hospital. The device will help medical staff measure a patient’s brain function.
Championship games took place on Sunday afternoon with winners crowned in six divisions.
“Without events like this, the regional hospital wouldn’t be the institution that it is,” said Brad Jacobs, chief executive officer of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation, who also noted the exceptional effort on the part of the event’s more than 200 volunteers. “The thing I love about the kids participating in this event is that it teaches them about giving back and it teaches them a little bit about what’s important in life and in their community.”
Co-chair of the tournament, David Curnew, said 66 teams participated in this year’s play. This is the first time the event was held in Membertou First Nation after previously occupying space on Charlottetown Street in downtown Sydney.
“We have a lot of repeat teams,” said Curnew. “Youth teams will come in one year, like it so much, and come back the next year but they break off and grow their own teams.
This year’s tournament raised $60,584, up 14 per cent over 2016, to bring the event’s fouryear total to more than $320,000.
Donations to the annual tournament can be made by visiting their website www.becauseyoucarecup.com.