The Ronald McDonald House Charities team was stylin' at this year's Freeze the House fundraiser in Red Deer on Jan 31. (MoonlightCanada.com)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

HURRY HARD

Freeze the House Bonspiel raises thousands for Ronald McDonald House

Feb 2, 2020 | 12:18 PM

More than 30 teams slid down the ice this weekend for the 9th edition of the Freeze the House Bonspiel in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC).

The event went down at the Pidherney Centre in Red Deer before a banquet with silent auction Saturday evening.

“These kinds of fundraisers are critical because our organization runs on about $8.5 million each year, and we raise all of that money,” says John Phin, Regional Development Manager with RMHC in Alberta.

“What happens is you’re a family somewhere, not necessarily where the hospitals are, and your doctor says you’ve got to go, so you put everything in the car and hit the highway. You’ve had a really lousy diagnosis, and now you have to go some place you’re not prepared for.”

Phin says the fact families are able to come to Ronald McDonald House and not have to worry as much about accommodations, gas, parking or even laundry, is at the crux of what makes the organization so incredible.

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Late last year, RMHC paid for a new food and supplies cart to help families while they’re actually in rooms at Red Deer Regional Hospital. This April, a new six-bedroom house will open in Medicine Hat.

Canadian, World and Olympic champion curler Ben Hebert was the celebrity guest pro at this year’s Freeze the House Bonspiel. Teams could make a donation to RMHC in exchange for him taking a shot for them. He also shared fun stories at Saturday’s banquet.

“It’s close to home and I love supporting as many local charities as I can,” says Hebert on why he wanted to be at the bonspiel. “I’ve been very fortunate in my career, and I didn’t get into curling originally to get on TV or go to the Olympics, so to come to events like this, it brings me back to what what I used to do as a kid, and it’s raising money for a great cause.”

For more information on Ronald McDonald House Charities, visit RMHCAlberta.org.

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Freeze the House Bonspiel raises thousands for Ronald McDonald House

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