Cheer Fund torch passed many times

Do you know the history of Cheer?

Our generous readers have supported the current version of the Regina Leader-Post Christmas Cheer Fund to the tune of more than $2.76 million since it was “reborn” in 1992.

This year’s campaign got off to an amazing start, thanks to the Bowties & Sweethearts Gala in February, an event spearheaded five years ago by Karl Fix and a group of his equally-community-minded friends. The fundraiser is sponsored by Mosaic. And Tim Young of Young’s Equipment is a major contributor. Event chair Denis Jones is now busy organizing the 2016 fundraiser. The success of the Cheer Fund’s annual campaign is due in large part to the efforts of these folks.

Of course, I had no idea how much money would be raised — no clue at all. And, really, I didn’t care …

There was a previous version of the Christmas Cheer Fund. It started in the 1930s, during the Great Depression, when there was almost no social service infrastructure anywhere in Canada. That version of the fund continued until about the end of the 1960s.

A story published in the newspaper on Dec. 20, 1969 explained: “The LeaderPost has been operating the Christmas Cheer Fund ... to give all Reginans a chance at having just a little happier Christmas, both for those who are helped and those who have done the helping.”

That sentiment continues today.

The Christmas Cheer Fund faded away for several decades.

Why was the fund resurrected? In the early 1990s, former Regina Leader-Post sports editor Gregg Drinnan saw a need in the community. He got Ed Schultz, who was the Leader-Post’s executive vice-president at the time, on board and together they got the ball rolling again.

From Day 1, Drinnan was adamant the money raised should go to local women’s shelters.

“At the time, women and child abuse and the lack of aid was a hot topic,” Drinnan explained. “Of course, I had no idea how much money would be raised — no clue at all. And, really, I didn’t care. Whatever we raised would be better than the nothing that had been done the previous years.”

Drinnan was the voice of the Christmas Cheer Fund for years, sharing heartwrenching stories and inspiring readers to donate to the cause.

When he moved to the west coast, Drinnan passed the Cheer Fund torch to Will Chabun, who did an impressive job of providing compassionate, inspiring coverage for more than a decade.

In 2008, Chabun passed the torch to me.

The tradition of helping raise awareness and much-needed funds continues to be a labour of love.

THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO DONATE:

Online at Leaderpost.com By mailing a cheque or money order to Regina Leader-Post Christmas Cheer Fund, 1964 Park St., P.O. Box 1130, Regina, Sask., S4P 3B4. Please make cheques payable to Leader-Post Christmas Cheer Fund. An official donation receipt from the Leader-Post Foundation will be emailed or mailed to you by the beginning of February 2016.

By making a donation using a credit card. An ongoing ad in the Regina Leader-Post provides details.

By phone at (306) 781-5211, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. If there is a special story behind your donation, please feel free to tell us about it.

DONATIONS John and Barbara Malcolm $50 The Serenaders $100 Anonymous $100 G. White $20 In memory of Michael Schmidt from Betty, John, Kent, Lexi, Joe and Theo

$50 Anonymous. In lieu of gift exchange $100 SGI Coffee Group $100 Marilyn Toews & Karen Lowe. In memory of our sister Elaine Balkwill $120 Eldon & Nora Ortman $100 Ken Samoluk. In memory of Terry Brown $100 Bev Bradshaw $150 Amanda Duncan $100 2015 CAMPAIGN TOTAL = $270,255.20