'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
3 injured after man with knife enters Montreal-area mosque
Three men were injured after trying to subdue a man armed with a knife during afternoon prayers at a Montreal-area mosque Friday afternoon.
Police arrest 18-year-old woman who allegedly stole Porsche and ran over its owner
Police have arrested an 18-year-old woman who allegedly stole a Porsche and then ran over its owner in an incident that was captured on video.
Woman nearly shut out of mother's estate sues brother in B.C. Supreme Court – and wins
Since she was a young girl growing up in Vancouver, Ginny Lam says her mom Yat Hei Law made it very clear she favoured her son William, because he was her male heir.
Teen arrested in New Brunswick after emergency alert; 5 people in custody
A 15-year-old boy who was the subject of an emergency alert in New Brunswick has been arrested.
Kamala Harris tells Oprah any intruder to her home is 'getting shot'
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris on Thursday issued a warning to any potential home intruder: 'If somebody breaks in my house, they're getting shot.'
On the trail of the mystery woman whose company licensed exploding pagers
What Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono, 49, the Italian-Hungarian CEO and owner of Hungary-based BAC Consulting, says she hasn't done is make the exploding pagers that killed 12 people and wounded more than 2,000 in Lebanon this week.
Woman shot by B.C. police was Colombian refugee with young daughter, advocate says
Advocates have identified the woman who died this week after being shot by police in Surrey, B.C., as a South American refugee who was raising a young daughter.
'We're still pushing hard': Search for missing Manitoba boy continues, RCMP find tracks
The search for a missing six-year-old boy in Shamattawa is continuing Friday as RCMP hope recent tips can help lead to a happy conclusion.
Video released of person of interest after cat is allegedly set on fire in Orillia, Ont.
Provincial police investigating the death of a cat that was allegedly set on fire in Orillia earlier this week released surveillance video of a person of interest in the case.