LITTLE CURRENT—The Northeast Town Recreation Centre was filled to capacity December 23 for exhibition hockey games to raise funds for the family and medical expenses of Wyatt Kennedy, a young Island man who had recently been diagnosed with cancer.
The event was organized by Kennedy family friend Britney Hayden and complemented an online fundraiser at gofundme.com. The online fundraising effort raised $6,550 through the donations of 118 supporters and the mini-tournament raised another whopping $8,664. Another fundraiser held by the Anchor Inn Hotel in Little Current brought in a further $810.
“The support has been amazing,” said Ms. Hayden, who said she was overwhelmed by the rapid response of the Island community to the family crisis. “We reached $5,000 in less than 48 hours,” she said of the online effort.
“It has really been amazing,” agreed Wyatt’s mother Karen McGaughey, “this really is an incredible community.”
“There is no way for me to explain the feeling I felt last night seeing all the support,” posted Wyatt on his Facebook page following the event. “It was really amazing seeing everyone rally around an event, it means the world to me what everyone has done. Words just can’t describe the joy and thanks I have for everyone. I would just like to thank the players who played last night’s great game. Guys, the organizers, you guys did a fantastic job, the speakers and of course everyone who has supported me through the beginning of my journey with cancer. You guys are the greatest community there is. It really shows. Thanks everyone!”
Ms. Hayden became involved with the fundraising effort through her friendship with Wyatt’s mother, a woman she described as a mentor who had helped her as a single mother, and through her brother Thomas Hayden, a teammate and friend of Wyatt. “Karen has been a significant person in my life,” she said. “My brother Thomas is a friend of Wyatt as well.”
She described her brother’s reaction when she informed him of the cancer diagnosis. “He got upset and said ‘we need to do something’,” she recalled. Thomas and his hockey teammates donned helmet stickers in solidarity with Wyatt and the concept of holding a hockey tournament was born.
During the pre-game ceremony, during which the two hockey teams lined up on their respective blue lines, a number of community leaders and dignitaries spoke about the event and the community support for Wyatt.
cancer.
Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Mike Mantha was on hand for the event, the last he was scheduled to attend before heading home to celebrate the holidays with his own family. Mr. Mantha thanked the organizers, the hockey players and the community for their outpouring of support for Wyatt and his family and brought greetings from Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing MP Carol Hughes.
Northeast Town Deputy Mayor Marcel Gauthier spoke on behalf of the municipality in congratulating those in attendance from across the Island and beyond and Ms. Hayden and her brother for taking on the organization of the event. “There were people from all over in attendance,” noted Mr. Gauthier. “People from Island communities, the First Nations, off-Island, all over really.”
Hockey legend Reggie Leach, described by Ms. Hayden in her introduction as a local hockey hero and “a man who knows very well how important hockey is to the development of our children and continues to give back to the community,” delivered words of encouragement to the players and Wyatt.
Northeast Town Fire Chief Darren Bailey spoke about Wyatt’s contribution as a volunteer firefighter, and on a personal level (Wyatt is his nephew), thanked the community on behalf of the family. During the game, members of the fire department were selling pucks for a closest to centre ice puck toss and conducting a boot drive through the stands.
photos by Michael Erskine
“Referee in chief of our region” Jason Thibeault also brought words of encouragement to Wyatt and his family and thanked the community for their support of the family of a young man who “grew up on the local rinks across Manitoulin.”
Before the “alumni” game began, team members Thomas Hayden, Michael Niven and Cole Dumond presented a team jersey signed by all of the players, flowers donated by The Hawberry Florist and a hat donated by KD Designs to Wyatt’s mother.
Ms. Hayden then presented the $6,300 cheque from the Gofundme.com fundraiser to Wyatt’s mother.
A moment of silence took place before the singing of O Canada, led by Taylor and Jamey Van Horn, followed by a ceremonial puck drop by Wyatt.
