Luck was in our favour the week leading up to the event, as volunteers from the Lions Club worked with the weather, resulting in great outdoor skating conditions.
The 6.5hour skate-a- thon that took place on Feburary 24th, 2024 celebrating Rare Diseases Day raised just over $50,000 for Sick Kids Rare Disease Research and Initiatives. A number of donations were received online as well as at the event, including $11,000 from the Espanola Lions Club- raffle and donations, and funds from various event day volunteers and activities, as well shirt sales.
A huge thank you to the community and our main day Skate-a-thon supporters including our friends and family, The Espanola Lions Club, The Town of Espanola and Recreation Centre, Our Children Our Future LaCloche EarlyON, Espanola Volunteer Fire Fighters, Espanola Home Hardware Building Centre, Espanola Coffee Roasters, Larissa McCulligh- MC Snips, Bailey Bouwmeester and Brandon Mailloux, Northern Ford, Carsonomatography, Caitlin Christakos-Artistry Ink, Buckin Firewood, and Johns Flower Shop, as well as Boogie Mountain and Seldom Seen. Advertising support made possible by the Around and About, Moose FM and The Monitor, as well as OJ Graphix who also donated all the awareness posters at the event.
Many thanks also goes out to our Raffle and Skate-a-thon prize donators including Espanola Home Hardware, The Espanola Skating Club and Lions Club, Jordan Stephens- Revel Reality, Canadian Tire, Freshco, Tanners Independent Grocery, Mike Belanger, Ladies night out gals, The Town of Espanola, Betsy Gagon, Espanola Ski hill-Boogie Mountain, Espanola Golf Club, Moga Mania, Dave Gallant, Espanola Paper Kings, Sudbury Wolves and Sudbury 5 as well as Roles and Associates.
An extended thank you to buisness’ that hosted activities prior to event day, contributing to the total amount raised including HOP fitness, Natashia Mack-Hot Mess Medium, Espanola Beer Store, and My Place Yoga Studio.
The Espanola Oval and Recreation Centre welcomed a couple hundred people during the Skate-a-thon. The volunteers, the community, and all the individuals who donated online or in person, our registered skaters who helped gather donations, those who attended the event, and anyone who has continued to have us in their thoughts-We could not raise awareness of rare diseases without any of you. Of the over 7000 rare diseases, only 5% have treatment and we are lucky enough to say that Iris’ condition-Pompe Disease is included in this. We will continue to learn and advocate for the rare disease community, and those that are struggling to get a diagnosis or treatment.
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