As you will see from the list of supporters below, there are some notable Canadian rugby players and administrators that have come forward to support Huggy’s efforts to purchase a new van. Karl Fix, President of the Dog River Howlers noted that, “Three Canadian national team players – Phil Mack, Nanyak Dala and Hubert Buydens, all who live on their meager carding funding stepped forward for their fellow rugby brother.” Two of these players were beneficiaries of last year’s We Stand on Guard for Thee program which raised $54,000 to support players participating in the Rugby World Cup. Fix goes on to state, “It’s inspiring to see that after Canada rallied to support these players in 2011– that they in turn have shown the same consideration and supported a fellow rugby player in need.”
Not only are the national team players stepping up, local rugby clubs are answering the call of support. Two Saskatchewan clubs, Saskatoon Wild Oats and Regina Rouges have each contributed $500 each to lead the way for other clubs to follow suit. Following the lead of Shawnigan Lake School, Howlers Dick Cornish, Director of Student Services at Notre Dame College in Wilcox, Saskatchewan have just launched a fundraising effort and encourage other schools to do the same as well.
"I was very pleased to support this great effort by the Howlers to support a great member of the rugby family," said Dr. John Gillis from Rugby Nova Scotia/ Nova Scotia Keltics / Halifax TARS. "I challenge players and clubs in Nova Scotia, Atlantic Canada, and beyond to answer the call to help one of our own in a time of need. I will be asking each club in Nova Scotia to donate or do a small event to help and know others are doing the same across the country"
Balmy Beach RFC, which was the club Huggy was playing for at the time of his injury, has been supportive of Huggy since he purchased the first van back in 1995. Geoff Reynold, President of the Balmy Beach RFC at the time of Huggy’s injury says that, “unfortunately there is no provision whatsoever for his transportation needs and that’s where we can all help to make a huge contribution to his quality of life and independence.”
It’s encouraging to see national players, rugby clubs, schools and individuals from all across Canada standing behind Huggy as he tries to reach his $50,000 goal by the end of the program. But we are a long ways from reaching this goal so we’d like to issue the challenge to other groups listed above to join the effort as well.
You can donate two ways; online at HYPERLINK "http://donate.rugbycanada.ca/e/huggy" http://donate.rugbycanada.ca/e/huggy or by sending a cheque to Rugby Canada at 30 East Beaver Creek Rd, Suite 110, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 1J2 with WSOGFT in the memo field. Don’t forget that donations of $250 or more receive a We Stand on Guard for Thee fine art paper print and $500 receive the canvas print.
Thank you to the following who have supported the program so far:
Karl Fix - Howlers/Regina Rogues Rugby Club
David Robertson - head master Shawnigan Lake School (Vancouver Island) Shawnigan Lake School
Tara Nameth - Kirin Rugby (Saskatoon)
Gary Dukelow - Cowachin Rugby Club/ Shawnigan Lake School
Robin Mc Dowell - Howlers/Regina Rogues Rugby Club
Val-Zehan family (Sam, Larry and Barb) - Howlers/Calgary Irish Rugby Club
Mike Devlin - President of the Burnaby Buffalos Rugby Club
Randy Ludwar - Howlers/Moose Jaw Nads Rugby Club
Graham Brown - CEO of Rugby Canada
Ryan Smith - Howlers/Calgary Irish Rugby Club/ former Canadian National Team Player
Troy Myers - Rugby Canada Atlantic Director/ Cole Harbour Rugby Club
Chris Suvan - Edmonton Leprechaun Tigers Rugby Club
Buchanan family (Carol, Michael and James) - Howlers/Calgary Hornets Rugby Club
James Acker - Howlers/Montreal Irish Rugby Club
Rick Bourne - Chairman of Rugby Canada Board of Directors/UBC Old Boys Rugby Club
Paul Van Wyck - Howlers/Montreal Irish Rugby Club
Chase Sereda - Howlers/ Bayside Sharks Rugby Club
Dan Jackart - former Canadian National Team player
Patricia Jaworski - Howlers/Calgary Hornets Rugby Club
Mike Holmes - Howlers/Velox-Vallahaillans Rugby Club/former Canadian National Team player
Chris Woodhead – Oakville Crusaders
Mark Wyatt - Howlers/Velox-Vallahaillans Rugby Club/former Canadian National Team player and captain
Albert Albertino - Howlers/Calgary Saints Rugby Club
Maria Jaworski and Mozak Samson - both Howlers/Calgary Hornets and Calgary Saints Rugby Clubs
Gillian Allen - Howlers/ Kirin Rugby Club (Saskatoon)
Jordan Astrope - Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Rugby Union/Regina Highlanders Rugby Club
Rodger Swany - Howlers/Rugby Canada manager/BC Rugby Director/Vancouver Meralomas Rugby Club
Dr. John M. Gillis - Halifax Tars/Nova Scotia Celtics
Kevin Vandeven - Regina Rogues Rugby Club
Jo Reinbold - Edmonton Rockers Rugby Club/Edmonton Rugby Union
Kevin Blanchette - Howlers/Prairie Wolfpack
Tim Powers - Ottawa Irish Rugby Club
Phil Mack - Canadian National 7's player and captain/University of Victoria Vikings Rugby Club/James Bay
Athletic Association
Josh Campbell - Regina Rogues Rugby Club
Ron Allen – Edmonton Clansmen Rugby Club
Aaron Abrams – former Canadian National Team player
Simon Smolden – Burnaby Buffalos Rugby Club
Dane Young – Howlers/Richmond Rugby Club
Michael McLetchie – Edmonton Clansmen Rugby Club
Nanyak Dala – Howlers/Canadian National Team player/Saskatoon Wild Oats Rugby Club
Steve Cook – Capilanos Rugby Club
Saskatoon Wild Oats Rugby Club
Gren Thomas – Howlers
Donnie Hewson – Vancouver Rowing Club
Dale Matthews – Howlers/Saskatoon Badger Rugby Club
Tryan Sapurgia – Howlers/Moose Jaw Nads Rugby Club
Hubert Buydens – Howlers/Canadian National Team/Oak Bay Wanderers/Saskatoon Wild Oats
Hall Family (Jody, Ryan, Marcus and Payton) – Howlers/ Campbell Collegiate (Regina, SK)
Gary Fumano – Former Canadian National Team player/Meraloma Club (Vancouver)
Spense McTavish – Former Canadian National Team player/UBC Rugby Club
Andrew Petti – Howlers/Alberta Referees Society
Shane Thompson – Howlers/BC Elite Youth 7s Director/Former Canadian National Team player/Montreal
Barbarians
Doug Okero – Vancouver 7s Rugby Tournament
Gareth Thomas – Vancouver Rowing Club
Pat Parfrey – St. John’s Swilers/Rock Coach/Former Canadian President and National Team Coach
Regina Rouges Rugby Club
Fred Forster – Former Canadian National Team player/Former Balmy Beach RFC player
Stafford Dobbin
Geraint John, Rugby Canada Coach, Senior Men’s Sevens
Theresa Gomes – Kerry’s (Huggy) Mom
The Law Office of Davine D. Burton - Howlers
Tom Woods, former Canadian National Team player
Antoinette and Cecil Clarke – Friend of Kerry Singh’s Family
Ian McConvey – Former Balmy Beach RFC player
Boris Stoikos – Former Canadian National Team player/Former Balmy Beach RFC player
Roger Gibbs – Friend of Kerry Singh’s Family
Dave & Dana Lougheed – Rugby Canada Board Member/Former Canadian National Team player
Michael Pletch – Former Canadian National Team player
Maria Jaworski & Mozac Samson – Howlers/Calgary Hornets/Calgary Saints
Al Charron – Former Canadian National Team player/Rugby Canada Alumni Relations
John Drohan – Balmy Beach RFC
Neil Bingham – Balmy Beach RFC
Vincent Haughey – Balmy Beach RFC
Michael O'Connor - James Bay AA/former president
Anna Schnell
Brian Moran
Joshua Campbell
Ray Adamson
Rusty Goepel
Suzanne Grimble
Ken Robinson
Bryan McIntosh
Michael P.A. Holmes
Glen Miller
Dave Prowten
Karen Heifa
Ian Turnbull
Gary Tetlock
Roger Gibbs
Claudine Tyrell
Velma Collins
Stevi Schnoor
Larry and Valerie Emes
Debbie Burton
John, Sandra, Candice, Shane and Chantal Keshwah
Diana Pritchard
Ben Suen
For more information on this effort, please contact Karl Fix by email at HYPERLINK "mailto:[email protected]" [email protected].