'An amazing feeling': Sask. community comes together in hockey night fundraiser for boy battling cancer
The family of Brantley Lamb is praising their hometown of Wynyard, Sask. after community members came together to raise tens of thousands of dollars to support the young hockey fan’s battle against cancer.
After being diagnosed with leukemia last year, Brantley has faced an uphill fight everyday on his journey towards recovery.
“The last 10 months were pretty big blocks of chemo treatment,” Brantley’s mother, Ashley Lamb, told CTV News.
Recognizing the Lambs’ situation, and wanting to provide Brantley with a memorable experience, a plan began to take shape among friends of the family.
Cienna Magnusson was the first to take action. She said it all started with the urge to do something for her friends.
“I really wasn't sure what I was planning on, what I really wanted to do,” she explained. “But I just asked her [Ashley] if I could plan something and it kind of just snowballed from there.”
And snowballed it did.
What ensued was a community-wide effort involving Wynyard’s Kinsmen Club, local businesses, scores of volunteers and the town’s senior hockey team.
A fundraiser dedicated to Brantley was established and it was decided it would end with an event at the town’s local rink.
On Feb. 25, the Wynyard Monarchs faced off against the Foam Lake Flyers. In front of a full house, it was Brantley who had the honour of dropping the puck with the captain of each team.
But that was far from all the night had in store for the young hockey fan.
“Both of our U9 teams stood on the ice with him with the flags for O’Canada,” Magnusson explained. “The Monarchs presented him with a jersey that they all signed. There was lots of people from both towns that were so supportive. The teams were phenomenal – they both made donations towards the family.”
“The atmosphere was just wonderful. It actually couldn't have went better,” she laughed while reflecting on the night.
Brantley holding his signed jersey from the Wynyard Monarchs senior team on Feb. 25, 2024. (Courtesy: Peyton Madigan)
According to Ashley, the show of support for her son came at just the right time.
“He's going back to school now and kind of getting his life back and just to have that welcoming experience – it was very memorable for him,” she explained.
A silent auction with over 70 items, a puck toss with the promise of a $1,000 prize, and the sale of mini sticks decorated with the words “Stick it to Cancer for Brantley” were just some elements of the fundraising campaign.
“The second that I asked anybody to help – everybody was helping,” Magnusson said. “People that had no idea who this family was were reaching out to donate. They just wanted to support it.”
“I just hope Brantley has this memory [because] this is a hard journey for him,” she added.
Mini sticks designed by JJ Stitch in Watson, Sask. were sold as part of the fundraiser. The sticks bore the words "Stick it to cancer for Brantley." (Courtesy: Peyton Madigan)
All told, the show of support for the Lambs in terms of donations numbered in the tens of thousands.
“[We’re] just completely mind blown how Wynyard, its not a large community, but they raised over $32,000 for this kid,” Ashley said.
As Brantley sets off to enjoy his time in third grade, Ashley said she can’t thank the community enough for the support they showed her son in his time of need.
“I just want the community to know how thankful we are for each and every one of them,” she said.
“Just seeing there's so many people behind him is such an amazing feeling.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cisco reveals security breach, warns of state-sponsored spy campaign
State-sponsored actors targeted security devices used by governments around the world, according to technology firm Cisco Systems, which said the network devices are coveted intrusion points by spies.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
opinion RFK Jr.'s presidential candidacy and its potential threat to Biden and Trump
Although it's still unclear how much damage Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s candidacy can do to either Joe Biden or Donald Trump this election, Washington political columnist Eric Ham says what is clear is both sides recognize the potential threat.
Haida elder suing Catholic Church and priest, hopes for 'healing and reconciliation'
The lawyer for a residential school survivor leading a proposed class-action defamation lawsuit against the Catholic Church over residential schools says the court action is a last resort.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
It's 30 years since apartheid ended. South Africa's celebrations are set against growing discontent
South Africa marked 30 years since the end of apartheid and the birth of its democracy with a ceremony in the capital Saturday that included a 21-gun salute and the waving of the nation's multicolored flag.