Hub Staff

It was a warm, sunny day for children of Saugeen Shores to enjoy on their first day of summer holidays, and Friday afternoon was all about children for staff at the Port Elgin branch of TD Canada Trust.

A BBQ fundraiser was held by TD on Elgin Street beside the Wismer House, from 11am until 2pm, to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network and Children's Health Foundation in London.

Children's Miracle Network has been helping children who have entered one of their hospitals for treatment for over 30 years. Locally raised funds enables them to help children who are fighting cancer, suffering from a traumatic injury or a genetic disease. The Network has raised $4.7 billion, most of it through events such as this.

TD employees across the country have been hosting events over the last two weeks in order to continue providing these often life-saving funds and this was Branch Manager Tim Edgar's first year of hosting a BBQ.
Previously fundraising events had been held inside but the branch wanted to try something different this year. "I believe over the last 20 years, it's been $65 million we've (TD Canada Trust branches) raised for Children's Miracle Network."

Edgar explained that there are two ways in which they raise money. They offer an automatic, monthly donation, where they look for people to donate $1 or $2 every month from their account, which TD then matches. They also run fundraising events, such as today's BBQ.

The BBQ offered hot dogs and water, by donation, the food all having been donated by local retailers. The hot dogs came from Hoof'n It, the buns from Rowland's Independent and the condiments were from the Wismer House.

To round off the lunchtime fundraiser, a whipped cream 'pie in the face' had been arranged for Edgar, along with Teri Ambrose, Customer Service Manager at the bank; Jeff Carver, owner of the Wismer House; and Deputy Mayor, Luke Charbonnneau.