An increase in the registered number of curling teams should mean more money will be raised for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Wellington-Dufferin come the end of the month.
Curling for Heart goes Saturday, Feb. 27 at the Guelph Curling Club. This is the fundraising event’s 8th year running. It starts at 9 a.m.
“We’re really excited because this year we’ve sold out,” said Sara Felske, Heart and Stroke area manager. “We’ve got 16 teams that are going to be coming out. All the participants will be raising funds in support of research, health promotion, and education initiatives both in Guelph and across the country.”
The event raised around $12,000 last year, and this year’s goal, Felske said, is a moderately more ambitious $13,000. Teams raise money through pledges and donations generated through online donations.
“We are growing in terms of participation, and in the amount of funds raised,” she added. “Every year it’s been raising a little bit more.”
The teams each play two, six-end games, with recognition given out to the top four “dream team” fundraisers, and the winning team.
The event is sponsored by McNeil Consumer Healthcare, as it has been for the past few years.
“We have lots of great local supporters for our auction, which we do every year,” Felske added. “We have a focus on the merchants of downtown, so a number of downtown businesses are supporting it as well.”
The event begins with a curling clinic, just in case there are some absolute novices on the teams.
It is good introduction to the popular sport of curling.
But Felske said it’s typical to have a few ringers among the players, excellent players who are a few notches above the rest. The first game starts at 10 a.m., and spectators are certainly welcome.
“One of the big things for participants is that so many people have been impacted by heart disease, so this is a way that they can go out and have fun with their friends,” she added. “At the same time they are supporting a great local cause.”
Heart and Stroke has research teams at the University of Guelph, so some of the money raised locally is used locally.
About $1 million has been given to U of G by the foundation over the years.
As well, the organization has placed 187 automated defibrillators in public places throughout Wellington and Dufferin counties, and provides grants aimed at helping school-aged children through the Spark Together for Healthy Kids program, which addresses rising rates of obesity.
