The Road to Hope Community Support Foundation received a boost Oct. 10 through a cheque worth $7,230, with the proceeds coming from the fourth annual Hot Karl Memorial Draft tournament.
The tournament was held Sept. 14-16 in honour of former Athabasca Minor Hockey player Karl Hetze, who lost his battle with cancer in 2014 at the age of just 25.
Tournament organizer Justin Tebbenham remembered playing minor hockey with Hetze.
"He was one of my buddies," Tebbenham said. "We went to school together, and I still have some fond memories about playing with him."
He said 104 people participated in the tournament.
"It keeps growing every year," Tebbenham said. "Every player shows up as an individual, and then each person gets drafted into eight teams. Players can come from all over Alberta, and one year we had a couple of players come out from Kitimat, British Columbia."
Road to Hope transportation co-ordinator Madena Reimer said she was really thrilled with the donation.
"It makes me teary-eyed and speechless," Reimer said. "This is going to help a lot of people in the community who has cancer. It's sad that Hetze had to die so young, and I still remember my son playing on the team with him, as well. For his legacy to be passed on through this fundraiser, I can tell that he is smiling down from above for everyone who put on this tournament."
Reimer said cancer can strike at any age.
"It affects everybody," she said. "A lot of people do not know how many people are affected by it until it affects them. We at Road to Hope see this on a daily basis, and the donation we received is going to go a long way for our organization."
Tebbenham said in the four years they have held the tournament, they have raised $27,632.
"All the money goes to supporting cancer research, as well as supporting everyone and their families battling cancer," he said.
Smatty Cup
Also held during the weekend tournament was the Smatty Cup.
"This is a ball hockey tournament," Tebbenham said. "This raises money for the Tyler Smith Memorial Bursary."
Reimer said this tournament, which is usually held in June or July, was named for basketball player who was killed in a workplace accident seven years ago in Lethbridge.
"Two young men whose names are being carried on through memorial tournaments," she said. "It's great to see their legacies continue to endure."
Tebbenham said a total of $475 dollars was raised for the bursary.
"When you add that to the Hot Karl tournament, we made a total of $7,705 for a pair of good causes," he said. "Neither could be put on without the public's support, and we all want to thank them for continuing to pour out their hearts for these causes."
EDITOR'S NOTE: A previous version of this story stated incorrect details about Tyler Smith. Smith was a basketball player who was killed in a workplace accident seven years ago in Lethbridge. Tebbenham said Smith liked playing ball hockey with his friends growing up, so they use that as a way to bring everyone back together. The Advocate apologizes for the errors.
