They may be old and certainly many are busted, but they still come and play. For it is the playing that has given them a lifetime of enjoyment, camaraderie, and memories of past glory days.
It was this thought that carried the day at Sunnydale Golf and Country Club when 53 oldtimer hockey players teed it up for another day of fun. This time, the purpose of their sport was to raise money to enable less fortunate young athletes have a crack at their chosen sport and someday reap all the benefits that these creaky oldtimers have enjoyed for a lifetime.
They raised $1,446 to donate to Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart program. As Bert Heeringa, owner of the local Courtenay Canadian Tire, explained to the oldtimers, “Last year Jump Start raised over $40,000 that was used in the Comox Valley to help over 300 disadvantaged young athletes realize their sporting dreams.”
The program has been running in the Valley for 10 years and Herringa added, “Some of those early recipients are now returning to help fundraise for future generations. It is truly a remarkable program!”
Being old does have it benefits and clearly giving back in the name of sport is one. Many thanks to our sponsors who also support the dreams of young athletes: Canadian Tire, Rob Speer, John Courtmanche, Comox Valley Recreation, McDonalds Restaurants, Bill Kolentisis, Midland Tools, Westview Ford, Happy’s Source for Sports, Russ and Sharon Nelson, Panago Pizza, White Spot, Comox Valley Catering and Sunnydale Golf and Country Club.