Friday night we all went over to Lee and Connie’s and helped get all the bucket draw prizes together, wrapped up and labeled. It was incredible to see all the great prizes that had been donated. We had a really nice evening and for the most part the kids played together well.Sunday morning we got a phone call from Lee just a little after 10am telling us that Global TV wanted to come down to the arena at noon to do a story on the Skate-A-Thon and Karlee. We very quickly got ourselves organized and headed down to the rink. It was a whirlwind of getting everything setup and ready for the big event. Lee and Connie were absolutely incredible organizing everything and making sure everything went off without a hitch. Lee had sent out an e-mail to get everyone down there for noon so we could have video of all the kids for Global.
Everything got crazy about 3 with lots and lots of people showing up and then the special surprise guest arrived. Harvey the Hound came in, in a whirlwind. He went straight to Karlee and gave her a huge hug. Karlee took to Harvey and had a great experience. Harvey gave her a Heritage Classic jersey and an autographed stuffy of Harvey. He couldn’t hug Karlee enough and then gave Dad a huge hug. When Harvey hugs you at an event like this you can tell that Harvey is emotionally attached. It definitely wasn’t the hug of a mascot out to have some fun, but of a very special dog who was there to make our families day special! Mom got a couple of big hugs too and then we took a bunch of pictures with Harvey and the team. Harvey and Karlee made a special connection. Later that night Karlee said, “Mascots are like stuffies that move.”Just before Harvey’s arrival the Herald showed up with a photographer and CTV also showed up with a camera. Mom got to do another interview and Dad took Karlee out on the ice to skate around. It was incredible to see the number of people there. Ryley’s entire hockey team was all there, there were members of a bunch of other teams from Shaw Meadows and Midnapore (even some players coach Joe previously coached), there were friends & family, scouts, church members, people I haven’t seen since high school and a ton of other people. Hockey Calgary was there handing out hats to everyone, Tucker Hockey showed up and made a big donation and there was even a friend of ours who made a donation on behalf of his Novice team in Crowchild. At one point there was over 100 people on the ice, the stands were full and the lobby was packed. It was very humbling to see the number of people who came out to see us.
It took a while to get Karlee out on the ice as everyone wanted to get a picture of us with the KCCFA staff, Hockey Calgary people, Coach Joe and Lee and Connie. Once Karlee got on the ice she had a great time skating around the rink. She enjoyed being out there with her brother and her cousins. It was great chatting with all the people on the ice. One player on another novice team came up to Karlee and said, “I’m sorry you got cancer and I hope you get better.” That was a pretty moving moment for me. It really summed up what lots of players on her team had been saying for a couple of months to Karlee. There is something very special hearing kids offer their support.
After we skated we did a huge team picture on the stairs with the kids at the bottom and all the parents standing above. It is a great picture and shows an incredible group of parents and kids who went way above the call of duty.
Ryley and Dad stuck around while they drew some of the bucket draws, but we had to run off to the Flames game with some members of the team. Lee drove us down to the Saddledome and we headed up to our seats in the 300 Level (the nosebleed section). We had great seats in the first row with Lee and the boys a row above us and other members of the team way above us. Mike walked up and told us these were pretty good seats and then told us there was a suite that wasn’t sold and asked us if we were interested in moving. Before he had finished asking we were all on the move. It was an upper level suite, but it was incredible. All the members of the team who were there were able to hang out together in the suite and watch a great hockey game. As Lee said, “It was a perfect ending to a perfect day!”
There are so many people to thank for the Skate-A-Thon, but I will give it a try. If I forget anyone please do not feel slighted as it was not intentional and I know there was a ton of people helping out everywhere. The first huge thank you needs to go to Coach Joe for coming up with the idea and contacting the KCCFA. Lee and Connie did an incredible job of organizing everything and making sure it all went off without a hitch. Dragan did a beautiful job with the poster and the sponsor list. We are looking into getting the poster laminated and putting it up on the wall. Leona & Cindy from the team and Tanya did a great job of selling tickets and working behind the counter. Mike did a great job talking to Harvey and arranging to have that great dog show up. All the members of the team were incredible helping where was needed and getting the great donations for the bucket draws. Finally and most importantly we want to thank all our friends and family who showed up to the event and made it so special for Karlee and our family. As Dad said in one of the interviews, “The support is there when you need it!”
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