Between the Sheets: Get Involved!

“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” — Vincent van Gogh. I can’t believe it’s been over a year since the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. How time flies! Our entire team has stayed busy with old and new involvements. An as I said in an earlier blog – It is our responsibility to give back. Here are some of the things I support, believe in and give my time to. Get involved! Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada – Most of you know my father passed away from a brain tumour a few years ago. And I am finally able to get involved and help raise awareness as their 2011 Spokesperson. And I am going to run in two of their Spring Sprint events, May 29th in Vancouver and June 12th in Calgary. So once the snow leaves the city of Calgary, I am going to dust off my dog, Hugo and both of us are going to start running again! This year there are 21 Spring Sprint events in eight provinces across Canada, each event is driven by volunteers. The goal this year is to raise $1.5 million for education, information, and support for the estimated 55,000 Canadians affected by brain tumours. Donations also fund research into the cause and better treatments for brain tumours. Visit www.springsprint.ca Motivate Canada – This year I joined the Esteem Team at Motivate Canada. The ESTEEM Team is a national, not-for-profit program of Motivate Canada that brings Olympic, Paralympic and National caliber athletes to schools in Canada to inspire and activate young people to set and achieve their goals.All of the athletes deliver the positive message of goal-setting and healthy living to youth through their personal stories of struggles, perseverance and success. Schools and sports organizations can go online to book one of the athletes to present to their group. Visit motivatecanada.ca Community support to rebuild the Grayson Curling Club – In 2009 the curling rink in Grayson Saskatchewan could no longer be used due to structural damage. A community meeting was held and it was a unanimous decision that Grayson needed to replace the curling rink. Grayson & surrounding area is a very strong and vibrant community that consists of about 500 people. For years they have worked very hard to keep their community a desirable place that would attract people. By rebuilding their curling rink, it will help ensure that their community has a safe place to gather for social events, and to put them into contention to host playdowns and other curling events. Grayson applied to the Pepsi community challenge contest and if they win, Pepsi will donate $100,000 to support the rebuilding of their curling club. So go online and vote today at https://www.refresheverything.ca/graysoncurlingclub Kurl for Kids – April 21-23rd, 2011. Myself, hubby Terry Meek and Olympic teammate, Carolyn Darbyshire will be attending this year’s Kurl for Kids in support of the Oakville Hospital Foundation – Special Care Nursery. This will be the first time any of us have ever been able to attend and we are looking so forward to it! So enter a team and join us Easter weekend in Oakville at the 2011 event! https://www.kurlforkids.com/ Sandra Schmirler Foundation– I was privileged to be asked this year to join the board of the Sandra Schmirler Foundation. The Sandra Schmirler Foundation was created in January, 2001 as a legacy to three-time world curling champion and Olympic gold medalist Sandra Schmirler, in recognition and celebration of her love of family. This was a collaborative effort between the Canadian Curling Association, Scott Paper Limited, Sandra’s family and friends. The Sandra Schmirler Foundation donates to primary NICU hospitals in each region of Canada. Primary NICU facilities are equipped to handle the most complicated and urgent cases of premature births. Premature babies from around the province are sent to these hospitals. By focusing our efforts on these primary NICU facilities, the Foundation has a greater impact with grants that are large enough to fund equipment purchases, expand facilities or training programs. I am honored to be involved with the foundation and ask that teams, curling clubs and events put a link to the Sandra Schmirler Foundation website and support something so important in our country. Go to https://www.sandraschmirler.org/english/donations/