Organizer Bruce Hawkins and his committee of Curl for a Cause volunteers surpassed expectations for their bonspiel on the weekend, marking over $200,000 raised by the group in its eight years of existence.
After the all-day March 23 bonspiel that filled the Fergus curling club, preliminary figures show the event raised about $38,000.
Previous years the event raised a combined $180,000.
The bonspiel attracted 24 teams for a total of 96 players this year and raised money for six different community charities. It also featured auctions and draws.
“Everyone enjoyed the day of fun curling, lots of hand clapping, tons of laughter, an awesome auction and each one left with a very satisfying feeling of having done something good for the less fortunate in our community,” Hawkins said after the event.
On Saturday, the retired elementary school principal and his wife Joan were assisted by committee members and volunteers in ensuring the event went off without a hitch.
Curler Bonnie Talbot of team Talbot said her teammates were enjoying the event and raising money for the Power of Play and Community Living. In all, the team raised about $1,300 with the bulk going to the accessible playground group.
Teams decide which charity they are playing for or can take what they raise and contribute it to more than one charity.
Hawkins said he had little difficulty getting entries for the bonspiel, managing to fill up the event four weeks in advance, including two returning teams from Oakville trying to better the $6,000 they raised last year.
The bonspiel was originally called “Curl for a Cure” to raise money for cancer research. The disease claimed two close relatives of Hawkins. Two years ago the name was changed to “Curl for a Cause,” to benefit more charities and the scope of the fundraising effort.
“We changed it because it just identifies what we are doing,” said Hawkins.
“We have a wonderful committee, hard working and dedicated to what goes on. People in the community are willing to donate.”
The charities benefitting from this year’s event included Power of Play, Women in Crisis, Community Living, The Door youth support centre, Centre Wellington Food Bank, and KidsAbility.
Hawkins said planning for next year’s event will begin in October.
