Saturday June 21 marked the Sarnia Saints Rugby Club’s 5th annual “Playing it Forward” charity benefit day with this year's recipient being the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation, along with the Sarnia Professional Firefighters Association Benefit and the Point Edward Fire and Rescue.
The club raised money through a banquet dinner held at Jack Doyle's on Friday, June 13 as well as the auctioning of memorial jerseys that are worn on the day of the game. Organizer and Club president Chris Groombridge said that he has seen the benefit day grow tremendously over the last five years, and credits that to the level of support Sarnia has for its' community. “We're a sport club and our focus is sport but it's good to do something for the rest of the community,” he said. “Every year it just seems to be a little more successful and it's fun. We enjoy doing it.”
Saints' women's side player Myrissa Kendall is the daughter of firefighter Gary Kendall of the Point Edward Fire Rescue who died in 2010 during an ice water training exercise in the St. Clair River.
Myrissa was working towards a degree in Behavioural Sciences at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia at the time of the accident. Upon her return to school after her Dad’s funeral, she received the news that she’d be unable to complete her degree as she had missed so much time there. The Foundation was able to award an education bursary to Myrissa to help her finish her studies.
“I know I will never be able to repay what the Foundation has contributed to my family. I was able to finish off my degree and knowing I'm able to give some of that money back, I just can't express in words how much it means to me and how much it means to have the Saints supporting me,” she said.
The Executive and Board of Directors are extremely grateful to Mr. Groombridge and the Saints Club for having this fundraiser for the Foundation and their local fire services!
Special thanks to CFFF Ambassador Janny Elg for attending the event on behalf of the Foundation.
