WINNIPEG — Whatever the cause, every fundraiser is sparked by a desire to help make a difference. And when one Winnipegger saw 7-year old Alyx Delaloye at a Winnipeg Jets hockey game holding a homemade sign with the words “Chemo by day, Jets by night,” he felt compelled to do something to support the little girl and her family.
For the past two weeks, James Globerman has been stopping by various businesses and schools in his St. Vital community to drop off fundraising bracelets. He has 2,500 orange and blue bands with the same words as Alyx’s sign.
“She touched my heart,” says Globerman. “She’s the same age as my youngest little guy who is six.
With connections to the promotional advertising industry, Globerman was able to get the bracelets at a low cost. The focus now is on spreading the word and getting the $5.00 bands on to donors wrists.
Marcello’s Meats is one of the businesses embracing the fundraiser. As quickly as the owner taped up a promotional poster, customers began buying them up.
“I was actually at the Jets game the night when she was holding up the sign. Just to hear the crowd and everyone into it, why wouldn’t you want to help,” says the store’s owner, Marcello Castellano.
Peter Alexander’s Boston Pizza restaurant on St. Anne’s Road has sold more than one hundred bracelets. Globerman has already had to drop off more.
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“They (customers) all know Alyx and they’re all involved and want to see her do well,” says Alexander.
Before kick-starting the fundraiser, Globerman had never met Alyx or her family. He tracked her down by calling Ronald McDonald House.
“I gave them all my information to pass on to the family. A couple of days later her mom phoned. We had a long talk for an hour and a half and she was crying on the phone because she didn’t believe what we were doing for her…and we went from there,” says Globerman.
The whole thing came as a surprise to Alyx’s mother, Jody Delaloye. “It kind of shocked me because we’d never met. I never knew him from before so it was quite surprising and overwhelming at the same time.”
The two families have grown closer over the last several weeks. They’ve spent time hanging out at a Winnipeg Jets practice and at the Ronald McDonald House.
Globerman hopes the bracelets will raise about $10,000 for the Alyx’s family. Money he hopes will alleviate some of the financial pressures of their situation.
“With the way they have to travel in and out from Neepawa, there’s a lot of cost involved,” explains Globerman.
Alyx’s family has to regularly make the 2-hour drive to Winnipeg for doctor appointments.
“It’s kind of sad in a way that we need this kind of help, but at the same rate it’s great that everyone is wanting to help our family. It’s very much appreciated that’s for sure,” says Alyx’s mom.
Better Winnipeg is a weekly feature that focuses on people and events that make Winnipeg better. If you have suggestions for stories, send them to betterwinnipeg@globalnews.ca.
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