Innisfail is hosting the first "Yellow Bucket Bonspiel" to help raise awareness and funds for mental health. "This is the inaugural bonspiel but we're hoping that this will be an annual event," said Cassandra Galenzoski, event coordinator.
Innisfail is hosting the first "Yellow Bucket Bonspiel" to help raise awareness and funds for mental health.
"This is the inaugural bonspiel but we're hoping that this will be an annual event," said Cassandra Galenzoski, event coordinator. "Lindsey had ties in Innisfail and curled with Lowell Peterman's daughter Jocelyn."
The Smiles Thru Lindsey Foundation is organizing the curling fundraiser. It's an organization that began in October 2015 with the purpose of raising mental health awareness and financial support to help those suffering with mental health issues.
The Yellow Bucket Bonspiel takes place Nov. 5 and 6 at the Innisfail Curling Club and is named for Lindsey More, an avid curler who took her own life in September 2015 at the young age of 22.
"Lindsey was the life of the party. She was at a curling bonspiel a couple of years ago and they had these yellow buckets," said Galenzoski. "At one point she put this bucket on her head and was dancing away throughout the night. It was fun and it characterized who she was," she added.
"Lindsey always liked to make people smile. She was quite a remarkable human being."
The two-day bonspiel will include 32 teams, live music and a pancake breakfast both Saturday and Sunday that starts at 8 a.m., said Galenzoski, noting that the breakfast and festivities are open to the public.
"It's a good community event. It will help a lot of people by fundraising and bringing awareness. It's curling for a good cause," she added.
In the past year the Smiles Thru Lindsey Foundation has raised more than $100,000.
"The foundation wants to make sure there are resources in place for people where they can go freely and get the help that they need," she said. "And that (they) know where to go and what to do to get help."
Galenzoski said the Yellow Bucket Bonspiel is also about sharing hope.
"We want to promote that there is hope, fun and laughter," said Galenzoski. "We want people to know that you can still have fun in life even though you might be struggling with something."
For more information visit the Smiles Thru Lindsey Foundation on Facebook.
Cassandra Galenzoski
"The foundation wants to make sure that there are resources in place for people where they can go freely and get the help that they need."
