Kurling for Kids (K4K), the renowned children’s charity recognized for its commitment to supporting children’s hospitals through curling tournaments, is excited to announce its first-ever event outside of Quebec! On November 16, 2024, the inaugural K4K tournament will take place in the province of Manitoba at the Altona Curling Club, marking a significant milestone in the charity’s journey.
Having successfully raised over $5 million in Quebec for children’s hospitals, K4K is thrilled to bring its mission to Manitoba. Every dollar raised at the K4K Altona Curling Club event will directly contribute to the purchase of critical-needs equipment and services at the Boundary Trails Health Center (BTHC) in Winkler, Manitoba. This exciting initiative promises to enhance medical care, support families in need, and ensure that children receive the healthcare they deserve.
“The Altona Curling Club is thrilled to announce that it will be hosting the first-ever Kurling for Kids fundraiser in Western Canada this November!” says Alex Wahl, President of the Altona Curling Club. “This inaugural event promises to be a fantastic opportunity for our community to come together in support of a meaningful cause – enhancing the health and well-being of all children being treated at the Boundary Trails Health Center.”
“The Boundary Trails Health Centre Foundation is honoured to be chosen by Kurling for Kids and the community of Altona as the recipient of the first ever K4K event in Manitoba,” says Foundation Executive Director, Shannon Samatte-Folkett. “The bonspiel will be a wonderful way to raise funds for our developing pediatric program and purchase medical equipment for the smallest patients in our communities.”
“The significance of this inaugural Manitoba event cannot be overstated,” says Stan Fong, K4K Director. “It serves as a crucial stepping stone towards realizing K4K’s vision of a Canada-wide initiative that prioritizes the health and well-being of children. By joining forces with local communities, we aspire to build a brighter future for our youth and ensure they have access to essential medical resources.”
K4K is committed to making a meaningful impact on the lives of children and families in Manitoba. By engaging with local sponsors, volunteers, and curling enthusiasts, K4K aims to foster a spirit of community and collaboration that echoes the values of the charity.
Curlers and fundraisers of all ages are invited to participate in the K4K Altona Curling Club event by registering on its event page through the Kurling for Kids website. For those wishing to contribute to the event’s financial objective, or to sponsor a team, a participant or the overall event, they can do so as well on the same site.
For more information about the event or how to get involved, please visit www.kurlingforkids.org or contact us at [email protected].
About K4K:
K4K is a children’s charity dedicated to raising funds for children’s hospitals through engaging curling tournament fundraisers. All funds raised are allocated to the purchase of critical-needs equipment and services that are often beyond the reach of hospital budgets, ensuring that every child receives the care they need.
About the Boundary Trails Health Center:
Boundary Trails Health Centre (BTHC) is a 94-bed acute care regional facility, within the Southern Regional Health Authority of Manitoba. Located between Winkler and Morden at the junction of highways 3 and 14, Boundary Trails Health Centre serves a population area of approximately 50,000.
BTHC is undergoing a $100 million expansion, which will bring more services closer to home. Included as part of the expansion will be a level 2 nursery where newborns who are premature or have complex feeding needs can receive care, relieving the stress on families who currently must travel to Winnipeg or Brandon for this level of treatment.
About the Altona Curling Club:
The Altona Curling Club was officially established in 1927 with a single sheet rink, and annual membership costing $15 a season! By 1957 a large 5 sheet natural ice facility was built in downtown Altona. The club enjoyed years of successful bonspiels, attracting close to 100 teams to the annual Men’s bonspiel in its “Heyday”. Mixed curling was equally popular, with up to 64 teams competing!
In the late 1990’s the Town of Altona began the discussion of replacing the aging facility, and in 2002 curling began in the new Millennium Exhibition Centre. Since then, the Altona Curling club has had the pleasure of hosting many Provincial Curling Championship Events such as the 2004 Manitoba Credit Union Diamond Ladies, 2007 Mondetta Senior Ladies, 2011 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, 2014 Chicken Chef Mixed, 2015 Strathcona Senior Mens, 2018 Canola Juniors and 2023 Provincial U18 Championships! The Altona Curling Club has also been honoured to be the home club to several Curling Champions.
