RMHCNA Winterland hockey tournament putting on finishing touches

“There’s a quote that I just read from a family and it talks about how the hospital that they were staying at was treating my son’s cancer, but the Ronald McDonald House is treating his heart and soul and I just love that. I think it really epitomizes what we do.”

Rinks across the Lakeland will be packed next weekend for a good cause.

RMHCNA Winterland Invitation Atom and Peewee hockey tournament is running for the third year from Feb. 14-16.

Thirty-six teams from across northern Alberta will descend onto Bonnyville, Elk Point, and Glendon for one of the biggest fundraisers in the Lakeland, said Oreen Skiba, stakeholder relations manager for the Ronald McDonald House, Lakeland region.

“All of the money raised goes towards operating the houses as well as the programs that families utilize to reduce financial and emotional stresses they face when they have to travel seeking treatment for their seriously ill child,” said Skiba.

“We kept it the same this year. Next year we’ll be expanding into Cold Lake.”

Team registrations and sponsorships helped the Winterland raise just over $130,000 last year.

Skiba is hoping this year they can achieve $135,000.

“We also have teams that do some fundraising on their own and then come to the tournament and provide us with either a cheque or with items from our wish list, so that’s pretty incredible that teams are going over and above to support us in that way,” she said.

“We were always looking for fuel cards. We’re looking for lunch boxes. We have a whole wish list on our website of things that we need toys for our magic room, diapers, that type of stuff.”

All 550 players will wear Ronald McDonald socks during the tournament.

It’s an added touch throughout the three days.

“I love seeing – 36 teams is almost 550 families – 550 kids walking around with those red and white striped socks. I also love when kids who lose a game come off the ice and they say well, at least with all the points the other teams made that money goes to the Ronald McDonald House.”

The tournament is presented by McDonald’s James Richer Enterprises Ltd.

It kicks off next Friday at the RJ Lalonde, AG Ross, and Glendon Arenas.