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This past New Year’s Eve saw the first fundraiser of 2024 for the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation. For the second year in a row, a memorial hockey game was played in Lennoxville QC in memory of Sherbrooke Firefighter Eric MacKeage, LODD at 59 years of age on August 17, 2021.
After the game, a dinner and dance were held at the local Unit 318 Army, Navy, Air Force (aka the Hut) Club. With the support from many generous local organizations, businesses and individuals, donations totaling $4,507 were raised and forwarded to the CFFF.
Firefighters from Sherbrooke Station 6, Eric’s station, brought truck 306, a 100 foot 2021 E-One Quint to the rink and stood by as the game was played. After the game FFtr Scott Passmore accompanied by Lt Pat Martel, FFtr Andy Gingras and FFtr Thomas Blais, presented Mike McKenna, CFFF 2nd vice president, with a check for $1,000 from the SPQ Syndicat des Pompiers du Quebec, Sherbrooke Local, towards the event fundraiser.
Many volunteers gathered to share the work involved to make the event possible, as folks in Lennoxville always do. Most notably in attendance of all events was a very courageous Donna Harden, Eric’s widow, who sadly passed away March 15th from her own 15-year battle with cancer.
The Foundation would like to thank principal organizers Francois Gilbert and Ryan MacKeage for all their time and effort in making this event a success once again. Hats off to all.
Photographer Linda Ainsley Hoy