Seven volleyball teams from the Lac La Biche region participated in ATB Financial’s volleyball tournament at J.A. Williams high school last weekend to raise money for the Stollery Children’s hospital in Edmonton.
The volleyball tourney was part of the bank’s annual fundraiser, Teddy For a Toonie, and organizers decided to rally and serve up some friendly competition for this year’s event.
“It was a great event,” said Sherice Bourassa, one of the organizers of the tourney.
Despite one team dropping out of the event at the last minute, organizers say the competition was evenly matched between the seven teams that came from the Lac La Biche area. Thanks to local sponsors, the top three teams earned a monetary prize, with Team Bad News winning the top spot and $1,000 prize money. Team Max landed in second, earning $500 and Team Pussycats took third, winning $250 in prize money. Organizers say the event was a huge success with the volleyball teams and everybody had a good time.
The event raised over $4,700 for the cause, which also included donations raised from selling teddy bears and chocolates at the local branch. Last Saturday’s event also saw a barbecue to help raise funds for the cause and several local residents came out to enjoy a burger or two.
The branch’s staff have been campaigning for funds since the middle of April and although they were just $300 short of their fundraising goal, they were happy with the results.
“We really appreciated people coming out to support the cause,” said Bourassa.
All of the funds raised in Lac La Biche will go towards the expansion of the Stollery’s pediatric emergency department and their blood and marrow transplantation unit.
Lac La Biche’s ATB hosts an event each year for the hospital, with last year’s chilli cook-off raising more than $2,500 for the Edmonton hospital.
Although it is too early to start planning for next year’s event, organizers are already considering hosting a volleyball tourney in 2012 thanks to last week’s tournament success.
“We will probably hold the event annually,” said Kristy Cardinal, an ATB employee and one of the event’s organizers.
