A decade ago Bruce Hawkins was struggling with the death of two family members. He had lost a brother-in-law and an uncle, both to cancer.
“So I wanted to do something,” he recalled.
What he did was gather some friends to help organize a curling bonspiel, known back then as Curl for a Cure. That first year, in 2006, the event raised $12,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society.
“The next year the oncology unit started at Groves so we gave them half the money and half to the cancer society – and we made $16,000 that year,” said Hawkins.
For the next three years, the proceeds from Curl for a Cure went to Groves Memorial Community Hospital.
At that point, said Hawkins, “They seemed to have the cancer unit well equipped, so we went on to local charities.”
For the past five years, six charities have been selected from among those that apply to receive a portion of the proceeds. The 10th annual event, held March 28 at the Fergus Curling Club, supported Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre Wellington, Community Living Guelph-Wellington, KidsAbility Foundation, Community Resource Centre of North and Centre Wellington, The Door Youth Centre and Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis.
The event is organized by Hawkins and a committee of about 10 core volunteers: Joan Hawkins, Laura Hofer, Tony Saretta, Barb Murray, Ginny Warren, Wanda Turner, Dyan Peperkorn, Chris Mudge, Bob Hook, John Campbell and Dave Pero.
Others help out on what the group likes to call an “add hawk” basis.
Prior to 2015, Curl for a Cause had raised $254,000. Last Saturday’s event, which involved 24 teams and 96 curlers, all of whom were signed up nearly two months in advance, added more than $46,000 to the total.
Hawkins believes there are a number of reasons for the event’s success, one of which is that everyone understands that all the money raised goes directly to charity.
“I don’t allow anything as far as expenses go,” he said, adding, “I think it’s a local thing … It’s the spirit of the community and it’s really wonderful.”
