Spitfires fans raise $10K-plus for charities

Spitfire fans helped four local charitable groups raise more than $10,000 during recent games at the WFCU Centre. The junior hockey team’s annual Stick It To Cancer night raised $4,636, with 100 per cent of the money raised going to local cancer care and research. On Nov. 1, Spitfire fans teamed with the Windsor Police Service and Special Olympics Ontario, raising more than $3,000. Helping the Windsor Professional Firefighters Association launch Sparky’s Toy Drive again this year, fans helped “Fill the Boot” to the tune of $2,071 on Nov. 10, in addition to the hundreds of toys collected for local children in need. And at the Nov. 15 game, team captain Luke Boka made the first donation to the Salvation Army’s annual Christmas Kettle Campaign — with fans chipping in more than $500. “Spitfire fans, once again, have stepped up big ” coordinator of media and public relations, Dave Ducharme, said in a news release. “With the nature of our scheduling, these charitable nights often tend to happen in close proximity to each other. But that never stops our generous fans from digging deep, in the traditional spirit of giving we have become so accustomed to in Windsor and Essex County.” Two big holiday-themed game nights are still to come: AM800 CKLW’s Cans for a Cause on Thursday when the Spits take on the Greyhounds, followed by the team’s annual Teddy Bear Toss on Dec. 16 versus Saginaw.