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Sandra Schmirler Telethon rings in 20 years back at home in Saskatchewan

The Sandra Schmirler Foundation clocked in another impressive telethon at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts this year, raising $450,500

It was 20 years ago that the first Sandra Schmirler Foundation telethon collected $13,000 from Canadians all across the country, so it’s incredibly fitting that the fundraiser rings in its 20th iteration here in Schmirler’s home province of Saskatchewan.

The telethon runs every year at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, taking pledges over the phone that will help hospitals in every province purchase state-of-the-art lifesaving equipment for premature and critically ill babies. 

“It's a wonderful, wonderful day each year when we do this, and it just makes you really grateful for the support we get at the Sandra Schmirler Foundation,” said organizer Robin Wilson.  

This year, the heartwarming trend of support has continued. The goal of this year’s telethon was to raise $500,000, which amounts to enough to purchase 30 infant ventilators, to top last year’s grand total of $430,000 raised.  

With 40 phones ringing from 8 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, the telethon raised an impressive $450,500 — from just under 3,400 donors, a record number for the fundraiser. 

Being in Saskatchewan was a highlight for Wilson, who felt that this province always shows a special kind of support for the Foundation and for Schmirler’s memory.

“When you come to Saskatchewan, it's just different than the rest of the country,” said Wilson. “People are so generous with their time, generous with their money and we just love being here.”

The Foundation, bearing the name of the Regina-born Olympic gold medallist, was formed shortly after her death from cancer. Over the years, the telethon has been able to provide over $4.7 million in grants to every province and territory across Canada. 

The day before the phone lines opened, the Foundation presented the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital with a $38,000 donation to the Moose Jaw Health Foundation, as it does each year to the tournament’s host city.

This year, the provincial government officially declared Feb. 16, the day of the telethon, to be Sandra Schmirler Day, a pleasing addition to the already heartwarming fundraiser.

Calls came in from all across the country, from the West Coast to the Maritimes, and a dedicated army of volunteers took pledges throughout the long day — a record number of volunteers, actually.

The telethon usually needs 120 bodies to man the phones throughout the day, and Moose Jaw stepped up to the task in abundance.

“We could have had 200 (volunteers). It was just amazing. We were here five years ago and same thing,” said Wilson. “It's not often you have to turn away a volunteer, it's not something you ever want to do.”

There were plenty of exciting names on the business end of the phones, including Schmirler’s three teammates from that legendary gold medal win: Jan Betker, Joan McCusker, and Marcia Gudereit. 

Schmirler’s two daughters, Jenna and Sara England, also spent some time on the phones, taking pledges, alongside each team competing in this year’s championship and some past championship players for Team Saskatchewan. 

“It's just really special when you take a call and you're talking to Joan McCusker, Jan Betker, Marcia Gudereit, it makes a difference,” said Wilson. “People like to remember Sandra and they love it when they talk to her family members, so it's very special.”

Also taking up the task was one Moose Jaw family with a special connection to the Sandra Schmirler Foundation. 

Barb Owens and Shayne Hogeboom were on the phones all afternoon alongside their two daughters Kaylee and Abby, both of whom were born premature and required neonatal care from equipment that was funded through the Sandra Scmirler Foundation’s grants.

Kaylee and Abby happily took phonecalls, telling their story to generous donors and collecting autographs from the teams who joined them on the phone lines — with callers requesting to speak with the girls rather than their parents.

Wilson felt that this year’s telethon was outstanding, from the generosity of donors right down to the venue.

“This is probably the best setup we have anywhere in the country, best arena, best fans, best layout for us to do a telethon,” said Wilson. “It's nice to be in Saskatchewan, and it's nice to be Canadian because people are very, very generous.”

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