LACHINE – Kurling for Kids has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity over the course of the past 15 years.
The program has ballooned to involve more than 600 participants and about a dozen curling clubs in the Montreal area in an effort to provide two children’s hospitals with equipment.
“We give about half to St-Justine and half to Montreal Children’s Hospital,” said Mike Cormier, of Kurling for Kids. Cormier said the program raised more than $250,000 last year and he expected it to top $260,000 this year.
Global News fields its own team, which split two games Saturday at the Lachine Curling Club, dropping one 2-7 but winning the other 8-3. “I curl once a year for this event, and it’s a great fundraiser for the kids,” said Paul Cormier, Global technical producer and no relation to Mike. “It’s enjoyable, you come out, have fun, and laugh.”
That laughter was generated on Global’s end when I made an attempt to throw two stones.
Suffice it to say that the first stone did not find its mark. I ended up splayed on the ice en route to throwing the second stone, which, I am told, actually stopped at a useful spot in front of the house and became a serviceable guard.
“You go out there for fun,” said Brock Macdonald, a volunteer who was helping teams with the finer points of the game. “If you’re too concentrated on it it’s not going to happen, you’ve got to be relaxed, you’ve got to have a good time.”
Nikki Pawliuk was one of the ringers on the side that defeated Global. She participates because it allows her to play with her daughter. “I’ve been curling a long time but I don’t curl well,” she said.
“But it’s a good cause and it’s lots of fun.”
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