2 minute read
Play it Forward charity game generates big bucks
Ask any of the 50 skaters who laced them up for Border City Connects’ third annual Play it Forward 12-hour charity hockey game and they’ll tell you it was a blast, but the real winners were the residents who utilize the services they provide.
The game took place at the Servus Sports Centre on April 19, and having met the $75,000 fundraising goal, Border City Connects’ executive director, Glenn Fagnan, couldn’t be happier.
“It’s amazing to think we raised $75,000 through 12 hours of hockey,” he said.
“The attitude of our players and how truly amazing they are to step up and assist our community members is truly incredible and I can’t thank those players enough.”
Fagnan also thanked the countless businesses and community sponsors for their support over the years.
“We wouldn’t be able to do this without their support,” he said, noting the game was the brainchild of Aaron Buckingham and has brought in over $200K over three years.
“ We also had a lot of community members come down to the rink to donate cheques on behalf of the players ... it’s a great fundraiser, and the best part is, the guys have fun, and that’s been the key.”
Border City Connects provides transportation for residents with special needs or mobility issues, with funds from this year’s event supporting the purchase of new vehicles.
“We’re in desperate need right now. We have two vehicles that need to be replaced this year,” he said. “One is the Care-A-Van, which we use for out-of-town medical appointments for community members, and the other is the Border City Express, one of our large paratransit busses that has w heelchair accessibility. We need well over $200K to purchase those so that $75K raised this year will help with that.”
Fagnan estimated Border City Connects helps 300-400 people annually with the CareA-Van and another 20,000 annually with the para-transit buses.
“The freedom this transportation offers goes a long way for those who use it,” he said.
TAYLOR WEAVER EDITOR
