Amanda Vaughan
Northern News Services
Published Friday, August 17, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - RCMP presented a cheque for $31,500 last Wednesday to the NWT chapter of the Children's Wish Foundation.

The Yellowknife detachment had raised the money through an annual charity golf tournament, which has raised $120,000 over the last nine years for the Children's Wish Foundation.

NWT sub-chapter co-ordinator Teri Arychuk is very happy with this year's donation.

"It's huge," he said. "The RCMP have done this for quite a few years, and this year they really exceeded themselves again. The generosity of the people of the North never ceases to amaze us."

Arychuk said that the NWT organization of the Children's Wish Foundation is actually attached to the Alberta chapter, and that all the funds received by the Alberta/NWT Children's Wish Foundation stay within their chapter.

"In the last two years, we have helped at least three or four kids from the NWT," said Arychuk.

Last year an 11-year-old girl with a life-threatening illness was sent to Hawaii with her family, fulfilling her wish to go to the beach with them.

The average wish costs the foundation $10,000. She said that trips are popular, particularly Disneyland, as well as computers and musical instruments. However, Northern kids sometimes have unique requests.

"Before we were separated from Nunavut, we got a lot of kids who just wanted their families to be able to travel back and forth to see them in southern hospitals," said Arychuk, who added that it's not uncommon in the NWT.

Arychuk got involved with the foundation after her own son, Travis, was a wish child 11 years ago. She said that the foundation does not use the phrase "terminal illness" which removes the hope from the situation.

While Children's Wish Foundation deals with kids whose illnesses are very serious, there are cases where life prevails.

Travis Arychuk recovered, and represented the foundation at the cheque presentation.

Travis was also excited about the RCMP donation.

"This will put smiles on people's faces at a time when smiles don't always come easily," he said.

Sgt. Ken Morrison, Const. Skipper Bent, and Const. Leigh Kukurudza, the officers who do most of the organizing for the golf tournament, were all on hand at the presentation as well.

Morrison said the tournament raises funds through entry fees, a dinner and auctions of items donated to the tournament.

"We have over 180 sponsors, most local and some from out of town," said Morrison.

He said that the event is popular. Attendance is split between RCMP employees and Yellowknifers.

"It's totally open, anyone who wants to have a team can sign up," said Kukurudza.

"We always have fun," said Morrison.