Shooting at their goal
Female players look to raise $50,000 to return to annual hockey festival set up by Canadian hockey legend Hayley Wickenheiser
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
RANKIN INLET
A group of bantam/midget female hockey players and their coaches are taking a unique path in their fundraising efforts in Rankin Inlet.
Elinor Mercer, left, and Catherine Ayaruak were two of the special occasion constables for the Rankin Inlet bantam/midget female hockey team's Jail Bail fundraiser in Rankin this past week. So far, these girls and their peers hoping to attend Wickfest in November have raised $15,000 of their $50,000 goal. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo |
The girls hosted both a Jail Bail and a skate dance this past weekend.
The girls are determined to raise the $50,000 they
need to return to Hayley Wickenheiser's Wickfest in Calgary, Alta., this coming November.
Being under the banner of the Rankin Inlet Minor Hockey Association, the team is not allowed to apply for a bingo slot to help raise the funds.
Their first trip to the event from Nov. 27 to 30 created memories that will last the girls a lifetime.
Coach Mikki Adams said she gets a lot of good ideas for fundraising on the Internet.
She said the list of fundraisers the girls will use to raise the $50,000 include the Jail Bail, skate dance, bake sales, penny sales, a Go Fund Me account and a possible raffle.
"We're looking at taking 15 girls from Rankin Inlet for sure," said Adams.
"I've also extended an invitation to two girls from Arviat, one from Whale Cove and one from Repulse Bay.
"I'm hoping as long as we do a couple of fundraising events each month, we should be able to hit our target.
"So far, we've managed to raise about $15,000 in two months, but there's still $35,000 to go."
Adams said the girls are also looking at holding a poker tournament in May, which have become fairly successful fundraisers in Rankin during the past few years.
She said trying to make as many of the events as fun for the community as possible may help them reach their target.
"I can tell you this, every single girl is pulling her weight with helping us to raise the funds.
"As well, the four girls from the other three communities I've invited to come with us have to do a bit of fundraising themselves, in order to attend.
"I'm very confident about this. We're going to reach our goal.
"Once we get a little bit closer, I'll be able to send out letters to local businesses to see if any can make a monetary donation ... whatever it takes to get the girls there."
