Shortly after recruiting 17 year old driver Billy Schwartzenburg to drive the number 86 mini-stock Ford Mustang throughout the 2011 season for the Spira race team, Ken Spira has made a commitment to support the Guelph Wish Fund For Children with any proceeds from that car.
The Guelph Wish Fund for Children was founded in August 1984 by Ron Asselstine and Alan Ferris. On a routine officiating trip with the NHL, Asselstine found himself in a Minnesota hotel room, after the game watching TV. While watching the News, he was inspired by a young boy reporting the weather.
The boy, he learned, was ill and given the opportunity to provide the weather report as fulfillment of a wish. At that moment, he decided he wanted to do something similar in his home city, and, upon returning to Guelph, told Alan about the idea.
Ferris was further inspired by the story, and shortly thereafter the two formed the Guelph Wish Fund for Children.
They strongly believed in the ability of the charity to help as many local children and families as possible. From the beginning, and to this day, the Guelph Wish Fund for Children is entirely volunteer-based, with no paid staff.
As such, over 90% of the funds raised on behalf of the Guelph Wish Fund for Children go directly towards the charity’s mandated programs for deserving children in the community.
From the outset, the purpose of the charity has not changed. The Guelph Wish Fund for Children grants a favorite “wish” to children who are 19 years of age and under, who have serious or life- threatening illnesses, severe handicaps, or have been critically injured.
The child must reside in Guelph and south Wellington County. It is the hope of the charity to provide the child and family with a special moment or memory that will help, if only for a short time, to relieve the pain and anxiety caused by their illness or injury.
The Guelph Wish Fund for Children also provides support to deserving children, and their families, who must travel outside our community for treatment and therapy.
“ Del Metals has graciously donated the hood space on the #86 that displayed their decal for the first race of the season and Fleet Image is in the process of getting a Guelph Wish Fund decal made up to run on the hood for the balance 2011. Since our race program is geared towards providing those that would not normally have the opportunity to race or work on race cars, the chance to do so. The opportunity to get our team and the younger drivers involved with giving back to the community is a perfect fit,” said Spira.
For additional information such as how to donate to the Guelph Wish Fund For Children, visit www.spiraracing.ca.
