One hundred forty thousand dollars. How’s that for a legacy!
The eighth annual UNBC Timberwolves Legacy Night fundraiser, held on Nov. 10, featuring best-selling author and Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor Kaleb Dahlgren as keynote speaker, raised more than $140,000 to provide scholarships and bursaries for T-wolves varsity soccer and basketball players.
The total topped the previous record of $82,514 in 2021.
“The amount of support we receive year after year truly blows me away,” said , Loralyn Murdoch, UNBC’s director of athletics.
“After raising more than $80,000 last year, I was hopeful we could get to that total again this year. When I saw how much support we received this year, I was floored. This community is incredible.”
Dahlgren, now 25, was a 20-year-old right winger on April 6, 2018, when the bus carrying the Broncos team to a Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoff game was broadsided by a semi-trailer that ran a stop sign, 335 kilometres north of Regina. The accident killed 16 and left 13 others injured, including Dahlgren.
Former T-wolves soccer forward Tofa Fakunle, a UNBC Wall of Honour inductee, also spoke at Legacy Night, as did teen cancer fighter Jocelyn Kerr. The event was moved to an evening after seven years as a breakfast event.
“The Legacy Breakfast was an amazing success for seven years, but we wanted to try something new,” said Murdoch. “We wanted it to be more social, and to allow our athletes to really get to know the people who support our program so loyally. The organizing committee did a wonderful job shifting the occasion towards a fresh feel, and I was so thrilled with how it was received by all in attendance.”
Canadian Tire marked its eighth year as the presenting sponsor. All funds raised will be distributed to UNBC varsity athletes.
“Without scholarships and bursaries, we would not be able to attract the best student-athletes to UNBC,” said UNBC president, Dr. Geoff Payne. “We aim to recruit great athletes, but also great students, great people, and great ambassadors. This support really goes a long way. I cannot stress how appreciative we are of the community for the continued support of the Legacy Night. It was truly a special evening, and I am already anticipating the ninth annual Legacy Night. Go Timberwolves.”
