Annual fundraisers earn $55,000 for Easter Seals
Posted Jul 29, 2010 By Phil Ambroziak
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EMC News - Two popular fundraisers for local Easter Seals families have once again sailed to success.
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The Clifford family Pascale, Emily, and T. J. Clifford, were one of many local Easter Seals families to participate in the annual Easter Seals Regatta, which took place July 16 and 17. The event was co-hosted by the Britannia Yacht Club and the Nepean Sailing Club.
Friday, July 16 and Saturday, July 17 marked the 15th annual Easter Seals Regatta and fourth annual Bushtukah Bring on the Bay swim, both of which combined to make for an unforgettable weekend at both the Britannia Yacht Club and the Nepean Sailing Club.
"The Easter Seals Regatta started 15 years ago as a way of introducing Easter Seals families to the world of sailing," explained Krystal Wallace, senior development officer for Easter Seals Ontario. "It started at the Britannia Yacht Club then headed over to the Nepean Sailing Club for a few years, but has operated as a joint venture for the past four or five years." Since its inception, the regatta has grown to benefit more than 400 local Easter Seals families and has raised more than $650,000. This year, the event raised more than $55,000 and kicked off with the Rock the Dock silent and live auction at the Britannia Yacht Club.
The Bushtukah Bring on the Bay swim took place the following morning with close to 180 participants collecting pledges and swimming the three-km stretch from the Nepean Sailing Club to the Britannia Yacht Club. Among those to take part was Bay ward Coun. Alex Cullen.
"It (the swim) is a very good event, which combined with the regatta makes for a great weekend," remarked Coun. Cullen, who participated for the second year in a row. "I've been training for an iron man competition (which actually took place July 25) in Lake Placid, New York, so this swim across the bay was fun to be a part of. It was a well-organized event and well worth it. The water was great to swim in and all the swimmers were well looked after." The more classic regatta event got underway following the swim and featured the Fuller Family Fleet Salute, which links up Easter Seals kids and their families with participating skippers. This year, 27 families had the opportunity to set sail and get a taste of what life is like on the water.
"A lot of kids with disabilities may not normally have the chance to go out on a sailing boat, so this was really fun for everyone involved it even featured a pirate theme," Ms. Wallace said.
Later that day, a number of children's activities took place at the Nepean Sailing Club while the entire event wrapped up that evening with a luau that brought together the entire Easter Seals team and local sailing community.
The money raised throughout the entire weekend represents a quarter of the funding provided annually to the local Ottawa region families that depend on Easter Seals support.
"To raise more than $55,000 this year alone is amazing," Ms. Wallace continued. "That was achieved mainly because of our major sponsors, which include East Side Mario's in Bells Corners, Tubman Funeral Homes, Domicile and many more. This year also marked a huge milestone being our 15th anniversary. This has become a huge event that also would not be possible without the hard work of our volunteer committee." "It's a two-day event where the two clubs come together and help each other out for a good cause," noted Britannia Yacht Club general manager Paul Moore. "People take part for different reasons, but it's is an event that is great for everyone involved. I'm already looking forward to next year." "I'm very thrilled with how successful it was," said Karen Wright, a member of the Nepean Sailing Club and this year's Easter Seals Regatta chairperson. " Everyone knows times are tough, but to raise $55,000 for Easter Seals was very gratifying. This is one of those things that just gets better and better as each year goes by." Ms. Wright went on to say the event could only improve even more as more time passes.
"The feedback we've received from the Easter Seals families has been great and the sailors who took the families out on the water have just been beaming," she said. "Many of them have already said they'd like to take part again next year."
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