Alberton Regals step up
Peewee team sending donation to help ailing Ontario teen
Aberton Peewee A Regals hockey team sent off a $10,000 donation recently in support of a Russell, Ont., teenager who is undergoing complicated medical procedures in Minneapolis.
The Regals have been rallying behind Jonathan Pitre and his mother, Tina Boileau, after learning about his medical problems though one of the teams entered in the Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup.
The Regals, Prince Edward Island’s regional finalist in the 13-team national competition, finished a close second in the nationwide campaign for online votes and the Kanata Blazers, from just outside of Ottawa, finished third.
The Blazers had focused their campaign around Jonathan Pitre, wanting to raise money for DEBRA Canada, a registered charity that supports families affected by Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), the disease 16-yearold Pitre has been fighting his entire life. People with EB have skin so fragile that they are sometimes referred to as butterfly children.
“His skin peels off pretty easily. Just touching him would rip off his skin,” Regals team member Ethan O’Brien said in describing his understanding of the disease.
Regals coach Mitch Illsley extended thanks to the many individuals and companies that supported his team in raising funds for the Ontario teen.
The Regals held fundraising activities right up until Saturday, finishing off by bagging groceries in support of their cause at the Summerside Superstore.
With donations and fundraising nearing the $10,000 mark, whereas the original goal was to raise $5,000, the Regals reached out to Township Chev Olds in Summerside, and they agreed to provide a $1,625 donation to top the contribution up to $10,000.
Because of the campaign’s connection to the Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup, they decided to reach out to the local Chevy dealer first, and they immediately jumped onboard.
Along with a bank draft for $10,000, the Regals are sending Pitre a Regals jersey with his name and number 17 on the back of it, and also a team photo. Illsley said he was adding a note of encouragement for the Ontario youth who received a stem cell transplant from his mother in March. Recent tests have indicated his mother’s cells are working, but Pitre continues to experience medical complications. Illsley said it is likely he will remain in Minneapolis until September.
Once he’s back home and settled, Illsley said he hopes to make a weekend trip to Ontario with his team to meet the youth his team has rallied behind.
Pitre is a big Ottawa Senators fan, and the NHL team is a big fan of his. The Regals are excited that the Senators are due to visit P.E.I. in September to play an exhibition game against the New Jersey Devils, part of the prize package for O’Leary winning the national Kraft Hockeyville competition.
Regals’ captain Brandon MacDougall said he’s proud of what he and his team members achieved.
“It was just nice to give someone like him with his disease that money to help,” he said
“It’s nice to do it. You feel good after you do it.”
Illsley said the campaign, immediately on the heels of the Good Deeds Cup, has been positive for his players.
“It just keeps going and going and going. Good deeds that never end.”