When it comes to granting children's wishes, not even a massive flood will stop people from giving.
A group of native Islanders living in Alberta held their eighth annual Children's Wish Foundation charity golf tournament on June 20 in Calgary, raising more money than they ever have before and no one swung a golf club.
The rain began falling that day and it kept falling until much of the city was completely flooded. Power is still being restored to certain areas.
The P.E.I. RumRunners hockey club has been holding the charity tournament since 1978. This year they raised $116,000, with the cheque being split in half between the Alberta/Northwest Territories and P.E.I. chapters of the Children's Wish Foundation. That's $58,000 apiece.
"We never swung a club this year and we raised the most money ever,'' said Wayne Stewart, a native of West Point.
Stewart said they decided to stay off the golf course and try to raise money with a day-long banquet. NHL legend Lanny McDonald decided to stick around and help out, sharing story after story until the money started flowing.
Beth Corney Gauthier, chapter director with the P.E.I. chapter of the Children's Wish Foundation, shakes her head when describing what the RumRunners managed to pull off.
"What an amazing accomplishment,'' Corney Gauthier said. "The P.E.I. RumRunners are an exceptional group of individuals who are each passionate and personally invested in every way to making this successful with the sole purpose of granting wishes to the children we serve.''
Stewart said helping grant children's wishes is something the group has been doing for the past eight years.
"Many years ago a friend of mine had a child who had a wish to come to the Calgary Stampede and that wish was granted and ever since then there has been a soft spot in my heart (for children's wishes), I guess,'' he said.
This year's tournament was sold out, attracting 144 golfers and the support of several sponsors, including Strike Energy whose president is former Islander Stephen Smith.
"Just seeing the reactions of the children and their parents who have benefitted from our efforts brings a tear to your eyes,'' said another RumRunners member, who didn't want to be identified.
The group has raised $660,000 in the eight years they've been doing this. The goal is to reach $1 million by year 10.
"It's going to be tough. Some people don't realize they can make a donation to the P.E.I. chapter in the RumRunners name and that will help boost our amount and it will stay on the Island.
The Children's Wish Foundation grants wishes to children between the ages of 3 and 17 who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. The P.E.I. chapter is currently working on 10 wishes.
On the Web: www.peirumrunners.com