The community of Bonnyville came together and celebrated the life of a friend and fellow football player in the seventh annual Scott MacDonald Memorial.
The three local football teams, the Renegades, Bandits, and Voyageurs, spent the day at Walsh Field in honour of former player Scott MacDonald, who lost his life to cancer.
“This is for anybody who has ever had a child or a parent or somebody in their family or someone they know who died of cancer,” said Kevin Sartain, head coach of the Bonnyville Renegades. “That's what this is for; it's for us to remember. That's why we're here. Were here to, yes play football and yes to win that is what we do, but something more. We're here to remember this is why we're here to raise money and raise awareness and fight cancer.”
Hundreds of people flooded the stands and sidelines of Walsh Field on Saturday, Sept. 17 to watch some football and help out a good cause. The day included the annual triple-header, along with a number of fundraising and awareness initiatives such as a silent auction, head shavings and much more.
“I think the teamwork and the family atmosphere we have here is second to none. People who come here comment on how people here pull together and it's all about pulling together when you're down and out,” explained Bonnyville Bandits head coach Mickey Fagnan. “Kids who have physical and medical issues, you know, it's a tough thing and it's a real thing to deal with. So were excited to be able to participate here and to remember Scott and his family. Everyone here has carried that for seven years.”
In the past six years, an astonishing $89,000 has been raised from the Scott MacDonald Memorial tournament. Of that, $75,000 has gone to the local hospital and the other $14,000 has been put towards a scholarship in MacDonald's name. So far, 20 of those scholarships have been awarded to local students.
Organizer Ronda Kurek expressed her thanks to the community, for supporting them not only the day-of, but with all of the donations and assistance leading up to the memorial tournament.
“The exciting thing about it is seeing the fans come out with the sunshine,” said Kurek. “We have a silent auction, which we've had amazing donations given from our community and the business and even some people just donating. The Edmonton Eskimos have given mini footballs so they're being given out. We just can't stress how much we appreciate the community and how they've given a lot of stuff that can be given away to help in raising funds.”
Former Edmonton Eskimo and 2005 Grey Cup champion Patrick Kabongo was on hand signing autographs and meeting fans. Kabongo, who took part in the coin toss during the Voyageurs game, was able to meet Scott just before he passed away.
“I got to meet Scott when he was in the hospital,” said Kabongo. “He's not just somebody you heard about, it's somebody you've met and you talked to, and who I got to chat a bit with so that's good. It's too bad we lost him, but we will always remember through this tournament.”
Triston Smith had been growing his then shoulder-length hair out for the past year in anticipation of the event.
“It's a lot colder,” Smith said after getting it shaved off. “The whole reason I was going to grow it out was for this so it's not that bad. I knew it as coming. I do miss it, but its just hair.”
While the coaches were focused on football when their teams were on the field, all three expressed that it's an honour to play a role in the annual event. It's one they hope to see continue long into the future.
“At the end of the day I think were all winners for supporting out local cancer needs through the hospital and through individuals and I hope this is something we can continue for the next few years to come,“ said coach Larry Godziuk, head coach of the Bonnyville Voyageurs.
For the players, the large crowd is something special but this game means much more to them than that.
“Just to see his family come out on to the field for the coin toss. You know it means a lot to them and it means a lot because everyone here is here for a reason,” said Voyageurs quarterback Silas Fagnan.
Fellow Voyageur Reid Skrypichayko added, “It symbolizes really, at the end of the game that football is bigger than us and bigger than a game. This night's for Scott, it's much bigger than us.”
