Many great saves will be had at a special marathon hockey tournament that starts tomorrow, but the greatest one won’t happen on the ice. It will be in the southern United States in March.
That’s when a group of students from St. Albert Catholic High School travel to New Orleans. They are planning this mission in conjunction with Oblate Youth Ministries to help the American city further its recovery efforts from the devastating flood caused by hurricane Katrina in 2005. As they work to rebuild homes, clean up streets and feed the homeless, the students will send a message of love and strength to a community in need.
“One of the reasons that I chose to go on the trip is because I think, up here in Canada, we’re pretty fortunate in knowing that natural [disasters] just won’t happen,” explained Sarah Gallagher. “I feel it’s just right to help the people who are suffering.”
The Grade 12 student is the organizer of the hockey-a-thon and she hopes the event brings the fundraising tally much closer to the $40,000 goal. Right now the group has raised a little more than half through various activities like bottle drives, babysitting and chocolate sales.
The action on ice will be non-stop for 24 hours as 80 students from St. Albert high and Ă©cole SĂ©condaire Ste. Marguerite d’Youville play against each other starting at 10 a.m. Thursday. Gallagher won’t be lacing up herself but members of the public can get in on the action if they choose.
For a nominal donation, anyone can play a drop-in game between 4 and 6 p.m. on Friday. If you just want to watch, the game will be played on the school’s outdoor rink at 33 Malmo Dr. A snow sculpture competition is also planned, but details were still being worked out when the Gazette went to press.
The school is also hosting a silent auction from 6:30 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 4. Tickets are $5.
For more information about the students’ mission trip or to make an online donation, please visit www.sachsmission.com.
