Curling and hockey are two sports that would be completely foreign to Haitians, however, Okotoks participants in both those sports are sending their thoughts — and money — to earthquake victims in Haiti.

The Okotoks Peewee 5B Oilers donated the proceeds from recent 50-50 tickets sales to help earthquake victims in Haiti.

An Okotoks Peewee team isn’t taking a half-hearted approach to helping Haiti. The Okotoks Peewee 5B Oilers contributed the proceeds from the 50-50 ticket sales from their Jan. 23 game against Claresholm to help Haiti by making a donation through the Red Cross.

It wasn’t just mom and dad buying the tickets between periods either.

“We told the players that we would be selling the tickets to help Haiti and a lot of them came down with their allowance money to buy tickets,” said Oilers manager Julie Ray. “They were really anxious to help.”

Ray said several of the Oilers’ parents had discussed what had happened in Haiti with their children (Peewee is for 11 and 12 year-old players).

When it comes to helping those in need, it surpasses any sort of rivalry between towns in Canada’s national game.

Ray said the Claresholm team was contacted about the fundraiser and as a result, several parents from the community 75 kilometres south of Okotoks brought extra money to buy 50-50 tickets.

It turned out not to be a 50-50. It was a 100-0. When the winning number was announced, the recipient refused to pick up the winnings and the full amount of $225 was given to the Haiti cause.

Now the Oilers are challenging the more than 20 other teams in the Okotoks Minor Hockey Association to follow their lead.

The Peewee Oilers have put up a poster outside the Piper Arena asking the other teams in the association to donate the proceeds from one game’s 50-50 tickets to the Haitian relief fund.

From Timbits to the Junior As, Okotoks hockey players are up to the challenge.

As of Monday, 21 teams had accepted the challenge.

Ray said plans are to have a picture of each team posted outside the Piper Arena along with the dollar amount it raised.

Curling

The ladies in the Okotoks Curling Club weren’t about to sweep the problems in Haiti under the rug.

When Haiti was struck by the devastating earthquake on Jan. 12, organizers of the Okotoks Ladies Bonspiel met just a few days later and decided proceeds from the event, which was held Jan. 22-24, should go to help Haiti.

“We saw the devastation that took place and thought that we should try and help,” said Laurie Lang, who co-chaired the bonspiel with Rhonda Holgate.

A collection box was set up which raised $1,215. In total the bonspiel raised $2,250.

However, the ladies did not forget the organization which was to be the main benefactor from the bonspiel prior to the Jan. 12 earthquake.

The organizers of the curling club presented a cheque for just over $1,100 to the Rowan House Women’s Emergency Shelter on Friday. The remaining proceeds will be donated to the Haiti relief fund.

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