Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Mar 05/99) - It was a testament to the generosity of Yellowknife individuals and businesses.

Last weekend, 40 teams laced up bowling shoes and knocked down pins for the Kids Help Phone.

"The community was fantastic," Kids Help Phone chair Debbie Euchner said.

"These community events are done across Canada and Yellowknife is always a top fund-raiser."

Euchner said around $17,000 was raised by the Bowl-A-Thon at Polar Bowl Lanes while the Yellowknife Elks Lodge contributed another $15,000 to the cause.

Hay River Bowling Lanes were also hopping. The town raised almost $10,000. Euchner expects when all pledges are collected the NWT total will be more than $40,000.

"I think we get such great support because the bottom line is this is all for kids," Euchner said.

Kids Help Phone is a toll-free, service in English and French staffed by professionally trained counsellors.

"The counsellors are equipped to deal with almost any problem. That makes it easier for kids because it's anonymous and confidential," Euchner said.

"If kids have nowhere else to turn, or need help and don't know where to go to get it, they call."

She said the service is accessed by an average of one child in 70 nation-wide. The number is higher per capita in the North.

The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Yellowknife Elks, by their continued support, showed how they feel about the service.

"We've sponsored the Kids Bowl-A-Thon for the last four years," Elks manager Dave Hurley said.

"Anything to do with youth is an Elks priority. We were all young and we believe anything we can do to help kids cope ultimately benefits the entire community."

Hurley said the event also increased their club ranks. The activity surrounding the event attracted more than 15 new members.

"Our goal is to get people to believe in what we do so it was a real benefit to us to sign up new members," Hurley said.

Michael Arychuk from Air Tindi, was the top individual fund-raiser, handing in $1,751. Gary Black, of Black and Write, raised $1,500. Helena and Mike Haener took third and fourth place.