COLDWATER WE CARE LADIES' BONSPIEL COMMITTEE
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The 5th annual WE CARE Ladies’ League Bonspiel was held on Saturday, March 7 at the Coldwater and District Curling Club.
Each year, we choose a different cause to raise funds and support. This year the WE CARE Bonspiel was raising funds to support the CNIB-Simcoe Muskoka. Our theme was 'How do you see 20-20?’
For those of us with good vision, it is one of the many things that we take for granted. Just close your eyes for a moment and imagine the things you would no longer be able to do – like reading this article.
Specialized equipment and services can be costly. With the help of our fundraising donations we hope to help improve the lives of the visually impaired.
Our guest speaker, Laura Joyce and her guide dog, Norma Jean, kindly volunteered to attend and speak to us about the challenges a visually impaired person faces and what we can do to help.
Joyce has been blind since she was 17 years old due to a benign brain tumour. Amazingly, assistance with training has enabled her to be a Registered Massage Therapist for the last 25 years. She operates her successful practice as Matchedash Massage Therapy in Orillia.
She explained the many obstacles of being blind and how she was happy to raise awareness of what the CNIB provides for people who have any stage of vision loss. Her current guide dog, Norma Jean, is her fourth dog (6 years old) which she received from the Lions Foundation in Oakville.
Our curlers in the ‘We Care’ Bonspiel brought in monetary pledges, and many donations of items for our silent auction and raffle tables—with all proceeds going directly to the CNIB Simcoe Muskoka. This year was a great success and the current total raised is approximately $7,500.
The We Care Ladies League of the Coldwater Curling Club sincerely wish to thank the many people and businesses, curlers, and helpers for their generous donations which resulted in this year’s very successful fundraising bonspiel.
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