Words Help Fill a Dream Foundation
Photos Steven Nowicki
“Ten years ago, a simple conversation with a dad whose daughter had been helped by Help Fill A Dream changed everything for me. Hearing his story, I knew I (Seaside) had to get involved, and that conversation became the beginning of our Road Hockey Charity Event, which has now grown into a decade of community, compassion and the love of helping kids and their families,” says Sue Hodgson, Owner/Publisher, Seaside Magazine.
The Annual Seaside Magazine Charity Road Hockey Tournament returns Saturday, June 20 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Iroquois Park in Sidney. This one-day fundraiser brings together Help Fill A Dream (HFAD) Dream Kids, children with critical medical conditions, their families and the local community for a fun-filled celebration of Canada’s favourite pastime: road hockey.
The tournament features fast-paced, friendly competition, with teams from across the region battling it out on smaller playing surfaces designed for nonstop action. Teams of three to six players, including a goalie, will need to be quick, agile and ready to score.
Tyler Stanton, a player with the Peninsula Panthers junior hockey team, returns each year alongside teammates who volunteer as referees. “We come back every year to support the cause. Craig and his team at Help Fill A Dream is very special. It’s more of an honour for us to be able to be a part of it,” says Tyler.
Beyond the hockey action, TD Bank will once again host the popular Family Fun Zone from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free mini carnival includes food trucks that will donate a portion of their sales to HFAD, along with superheroes, princesses, mascots, fire trucks, bouncy castles, hands-on exhibits and a dunk tank. Organizers are also hinting at a few extra surprises this year as Help Fill A Dream celebrates its 40th anniversary.
“Help Fill A Dream is only able to do what we do through the generosity of our community. An event like the Charity Road Hockey Tournament is the perfect opportunity to bring together donors, sponsors, volunteers, players, Help Fill A Dream kids and families, and the public to enjoy a day of fundraising and fun. One of the highlights of the day each year is the Dream Reveal. This year we will be filling Sumeaya’s Disney World Dream. It is so wonderful to celebrate a Dream with those who work so hard to make them happen,” says Craig Smith, Executive Director, Help Fill A Dream.
Last year, the event raised $13,300, and since the tournament began nine years ago, it has raised more than $150,000 in support of Vancouver Island children with critical medical conditions.
Says Tyler: “If you have not stopped by before and been a part of the event, as a volunteer or supporter, I highly encourage it. What Help Fill A Dream does for those in need is incredible!”
