Keeping her memory alive
Michelle Curtis Memorial Washer Toss Tournament coming up in August
An upcoming tournament is all about fun, education and remembering a much-loved woman in the community who died a hero.
The Michelle Curtis Memorial Washer Toss Tournament is being held Aug. 6 at the KOC in New Waterford, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
“It’s to keep Michelle’s memory alive” said Diane White, mother of the late Michelle Curtis.
White said friends and family wanted to organize an event and came up with the idea for the washer toss tournament, as Michelle loved to have fun and was a big believer in education.
“She loved washer toss and would be the first to tell you she wasn’t great at it but loved to do it.”
Registration is $20 with all funds raised going to the Breton Education Centre Scholastic Fund in Michelle’s name towards a student heading into nursing and to Palliative Care, Cape Breton.
The late Michelle Curtis was a well-respected palliative care nurse at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital and was actively involved in the lives of her two children, coaching their sports teams and supporting their achievements.
On Aug. 2, 2015, Curtis had been taking part in a fun-filled weekend with 30 friends and family at MacLeod’s Beach Campsite near Inverness, when numerous children got caught in a riptide. Curtis was first in the water and to reach the kids and after she got her son Harrison, 10, and daughter Sophie, 13, back to safety, went back to help other children. She collapsed on the beach after the rescue but sadly could not be resuscitated.
Registration will begin at 11 a.m. the day of the tournament, teams will be chosen by draw afterwards. People can also register early through sending their full name and the $20 through e-transfer to Kendra. baldwin@mggh.org
There is a limit of 128 people that can participate. There will be a barbecue and beverages available for purchase.
White said they have received wonderful support from the community in preparing for the event. She said New Waterford Home Hardware donated the wood and friends got together to build and paint 16 sets of washer toss boxes.
“We made our own washer toss boxes so we could use them year after year.”
White said this will be an annual event.
She said they then went to Home Depot and were given 100 washers.
“We appreciate the support from Home Depot and Home Hardware.”
White said Michelle loved music and they are choosing 16 of her favourite songs - including “It’s 5 o’clock Somewhere” and “Purple Rain”. One of the song names will be printed on each set of boxes and will also become the names of each of the teams.
Michelle was a diploma nurse who graduated from the Halifax Infirmary, and then went on for her Bachelor of Science in nursing from St. Francis Xavier University.
White said her daughter was one course shy from receiving her degree and was registered for that course in September, but died in August.
White said the family attended the graduation on May 2, 2016.
“St. FX presented Michelle with her degree posthumously, accepted by the family,” she said.
“They gave us the degree for a bachelor of science in nursing that she had worked so hard for.”