Get ready for a special hockey night in Bradford — for a good cause.
Kash Toor, president of Mortgage Partners Corporation, is organizing the fourth fundraising hockey game for the Hospital for Sick Children, set to take place from 2 to 5 p.m. on Dec. 9 at the BWG Leisure Centre.
“We do some things which we really believe in and support wholeheartedly,” Toor said via email, noting his business supports Coldest Night of the Year and the Helping Hand Food Bank at other points throughout the year. “Our mission is to inspire our community to invest in health and scientific advances to improve the lives of children and their families in Ontario and across Canada.”
Toor and his team will have plenty of extra help with that this year, because for the first time, members of the South Simcoe Police Service will face off against Toor’s team led by captain Jose De Jesus.
“We get to play a game we love to raise money and awareness for such an amazing cause,” Const. Tyler Howey said. “Every member of our team is excited for the opportunity to lace up the skates for such a great cause.”
Howey suspects most people in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) know a child and family that have been helped by SickKids and emphasized the “incredible service” the hospital provides to “some of the most vulnerable members of our community.”
Both teams are also expected to be joined by special guest, Santa Claus, who will be available for photos with children from 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Guests will also have the opportunity to enter a raffle for a chance to win a necklace and gift cards from Home Depot, Canadian Tire and local restaurants.
In addition to the singing of O Canada, the opening ceremony will also feature local children singing Light a Candle, and hot chocolate will be available in the lobby.
The event returns from a three-year hiatus after it first ran in 2017 and again in 2018 and 2019, before the pandemic put it on hold from 2020-22.
The last match in 2019 was able to raise about $7,000 and Toor is hoping good attendance and open hearts will allow them to match or even surpass that this year.
There is no cost to attend the game, but donations can be made through the cash box, cheques made payable to SickKids or e-transfers to [email protected].
