Hockey tournament inspires hope
The lives of two young people who were taken too soon were honoured at the annual Julia’s Hope Cup tournament Saturday in Welland.
The pond hockey fundraiser has been held since 2012 in memory of Julia Turner, a Welland teen who lost her battle with cancer two days before Christmas 2011. Her parents, Paul and Tina, have organized the tournament for seven years in the name of their daughter, but also hosted it to raise money for the Hope Centre before Julia’s death.
On Saturday, the Turners also paid tribute to Troy Larouche, a childhood friend of Julia’s who died in a car accident in Germany last September while attending business school through his enrolment with Brock University.
A tragic loss that happened only a few months ago, Troy’s parents Larry and Brenda are grateful for the organizers’ decision to include his name in the event this year, coincidentally on the date of what would have been his 22nd birthday.
“Something good is coming out of something bad,” said his father.
Brenda Larouche agreed that their family is appreciative of Troy’s life being remembered by the hundreds of people in attendance at Chippawa Park on Saturday, but said supporting a local organization that supports the less fortunate and homeless is what the day is all about.
“We’re very honoured and the bottom line is that it’s for the Hope Centre — and we hope they do really well,” she said.
There were three games played on Saturday, one of them for kids aged six to 12. Paul Turner said Saturday’s tournament, played on the ice at the municipal park, raised about $ 20,000, contributing to approximately $ 130,000 that Julia’s Hope Cup has raised for the centre since 2012.
“It’s a beautiful feeling,” said Turner after the tournament.
“She’s smiling down at us right now — thinking how amazing this is.”
Mark Carl, executive director of the Hope Centre, said his organization’s services are expanding.
Mental health, addiction issues, poverty, as well as the provision of a food bank and soup kitchen, are all part of the Hope Centre’s programming.
Carl said the hard work of the Turners and all the event’s sponsors deserve all the praise he can give.
“They truly are people who care about the community. It warms us and shows how great the community of Welland is,” he said.
There was also a silent auction at the event.
Last year’s edition was a ballhockey tournament due to warm weather, but Saturday’s cold temperatures allowed participants to lace up their ice skates.