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The annual local fundraiser for ALS called Karen's Purple Shirt Party, was a hockey event this year and raised about $23,000.
Winners of the cup were Randy Wong, Kevin Riehl, Paxton Schaffer and Austin Wong.
A Redcliff resident held an annual event to raise funds for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and to honour his wife Karen, who died two years ago.
On June 8 Rick Wagenaar attracted 225 guests to the second annual Karen’s Purple Shirt Party. It was a three-on-three ball hockey event with music, food and a silent auction.
“Although it was a fabulous evening of good old-fashioned Canadian road-hockey and lots of energy while watching the final game, my favourite part was listening to John Wort Hannam, his music and talent,” said Wagenaar. “For my boys, they were bursting with pride in being part of such a wonderful event and being able to represent their mom in this way.
“They were great ambassadors of Karen, when others might want to run away, they didn’t, they stuck in there. I could not have been prouder of them.”
The event raised about $23,000, which will all go directly to ALS, said Wagenaar. The funds will help to find a cure and assist those living with ALS who need supports for day-to-day living.
For Karen, the first symptoms of ALS began in 2015 with some muscle loss. She died in April 2017.
ALS — also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease or motor neuron disease — gradually paralyzes people because the brain is no longer able to communicate with the muscles of the body. Over time as the muscles of the body break down, those afflicted will lose the ability to walk, talk, eat, swallow and eventually breathe, according to the ALS Society’s website.
One of the silent auction items for Karen’s Purple Shirt Party was donated by Mikael Backlund of the Calgary Flames whose mother-in-law also had ALS. Wagenaar says that item brought in lots of money.
Wagenaar says people can still contribute to the fundraiser by going to the organization’s website.
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