Major Mark Roberts presents to Tom Hedican's Coach4Food the donation check of 12,500 Lbs. collected by the 22nd Wing. Photo by: Devin Size
The 22nd Wing of the North Bay Military Base has raised the bar for the Coach4Food Fundraiser, raising over 12,500 pounds of food which makes them the largest single contributor thus far – the previous being 7,505 pounds. Two afternoon practice sessions took place with Tom Hedican at Memorial Gardens today. The first session was for the hockey players from the old timers’ league from the 22nd Wing and the second for their kids who also play hockey. Major Mark Roberts says it was an initiative led by Chief Paul Cook of the North Bay Police.
“Chief Cook is good friends with Hedican, and him knowing I was into hockey and the wing had a team, he suggested a partnership between us and Coach4Food. It’s for a great, charitable cause, it has to do with hockey and it strengthens our tie to the community.” Major Roberts explains. “It made sense on three levels,” he concluded.
The wing members were gathering donations on the Base itself as well as a naval concert at the Capitol center. All ticket sales and proceeds were donated to the North Bay Food Bank through Coach4Food. The 22nd wing was given a donation by FDN4 International Inc., North Bay, which boosted its total by another 1,000 pounds. Making their total now 13,500 pounds.
This is Hedican’s 6th year running the fundraiser. Starting in the first year with only a total of 1000 lbs. in donated food, and last year having run up a total of 76,319 pounds, he is excited as this year will be another record breaker.
“We’re well on our way to surpassing the 80,000 mark,” Hedican stated. “The wing brought in over 12,500 pounds and they think that number is conservative. And the money is key, because the food bank doesn’t get everything they need donated, so they can buy what they are missing.”
Hedican also explained that his boss in Switzerland, Peter Kern, is one of the biggest contributors to the cause, giving 10,000$ a year to Coach4Food for the last two years.
“When I was in Switzerland last year, I told him that I wanted to do something to honour the military here, I wanted to get the team fatigues or uniforms. Obviously there’s not a budget for that, in fact we have no budget at all. When I explained the idea and that I had no way to fund it, he said “let me help you pay for it” right away.” Hedican said. “I have great admiration for what they (Canadian Forces) do, and when Major Roberts asked me to do this with him, I was honoured.`
Not only did this contribution help greatly to the fundraiser itself, it also allowed for jerseys and coats to be made for the players and partners.
The fundraiser and practices continue until Dec. 23rd when the grand total will be announced.
