Peterborough Stands With Ukraine Fundraiser Raises Over $9,000

Peterborough Stands with Ukraine fundraiser, hosted by a local group of volunteers on April 30, raised over $9,000.

THE TEAM LEARNING TO MAKE PEROGIES AHEAD OF THE FUNDRAISER. PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNIFER SCRIVER.

Krystal LeBreton, Steph Logan, Kateryna Sysoieva, Jennifer Mahoney Scriver and Kaitlyn Cavanagh came together to host ‘Peterborough Stands with Ukraine’ at St. Theresa Elementary School.

The event featured a raffle, silent auction, bake sale, a 1 km race and home made perogies.

The idea for a fundraiser happened when LeBreton was chatting with Sysoieva, who is from Ukraine.

Now, after raising over $9,000, the funds will be split three ways.

Part will be sent to Sysoieva’s sister, who still lives in Ukraine and is volunteering on the ground there.

Funds will also be donated to Meest, an organization that is delivering humanitarian supplies to Ukraine, and to World Central Kitchen, an organization delivering fresh meals to recently liberated Ukrainian cities.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Runner's Life Launches Inaugural "Fast & Furriest" Fundraiser Run For Lakefield Animal Welfare Society; PetValu Relocates Next Door

Multisport store Runner’s Life is hosting its first “PetValu Fast & Furriest” 5k/10k & 1k Run/Walk in support of the Lakefield Animal Welfare Society (LAWS).

Additionally, PetValu (Chemong Road location) declared their relocation next door to the recently-vacated Family Thrift Store in a joint announcement Friday morning.

(From left to right) Sandy Andrew, Pat Valu co-owner; Gemini the cat; Terry Guiel, Downtown Business Improvement Area executive director; Tucker the dog and Jane Nahrgang, LAWS adoption and shelter coordinator. Pet Valu is the main sponsor for the inaugural ‘PatValue Fast & Furriest’ run/walk. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The event runs on June 25 at 9:30 a.m. at Del Crary Park. It is the first run/walk Runner’s Life has been able to run in two years.

“We’ve missed out on staple events like the St. Patrick’s Day 5k, YMCA Run, Run for Mental Health & Butterfly run for years and couldn’t be more thrilled to have events like this back in our downtown core,” said David Dame of Runner’s Life and race director.

The run is a great way for anyone who wants to get themselves active after being weighed down from the lockdowns of Covid according to Dame.

“We're going to bring people back together which is a huge step,” he said. bring them downtown and we're going to bring health and fitness back into the community so three big steps in the right direction.”

The route is a five kilometre loop of Little Lake in Del Crary Park. Participants can do once or twice with scenic views of Del Crary Park, Beavermead Park, the new Canoe Museum and Little Lake. A kids’ There will be a kids’ one-kilometre fun run within the park in running at the same time.

The money raised goes towards LAWS since the pet population has almost doubled during the pandemic according to Dame.

Animal care is the biggest cost that the non-profit shelter has to cover according to Jane Nahrgang, LAWS adoption and shelter coordinator

"It all goes directly towards the animals," she said. "Our biggest thing is veterinarian bills, the care and the shelter."

Craig Andrew, Pet Valu co-owner pets Gemini atop a cat tower in the store. Gemini lives at Pet Valu as the store cat. Customers are allowed to interact with her and other animals within the pet shop. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Pet Valu is doubling their store size as they are moving next door on June 3.

The store will grow from 3,000 to 6,000 sq. ft. with new features such as pet grooming and a public dog wash; the first-ever in Peterborough according to Craig Andrew, Pet Valu co-owner.

"(The dog wash) It'll be near the rear of the store where customers can come in and wash their own dogs," he said. "It's quite glorious, how it looks. It's a much more roomier store and grooming on site."

Registration and details — including other running events — can be found at runptbo.com

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Peterborough Stands With Ukraine Fundraiser Being Held At St Theresa Elementary School

A group of women from Peterborough have joined together to organize a fundraising event for Ukraine relief efforts at St Theresa Elementary school on April 30.

The team learning to make perogies ahead of the fundraiser. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Scriver.

As much of the world is watching horrors unfold in Ukraine, the feeling of wanting to do something to help is what brought Krystal LeBreton, Steph Logan, Kateryna Sysoieva, Jennifer Mahoney Scriver and Kaitlyn Cavanagh together.

The idea for a fundraiser happened when LeBreton was chatting with Sysoieva, who is from Ukraine.

“I said I wish something would be happening here, and she said ‘well, let’s just do it’,” said Syosieva. “I thought I don’t know what to do, I’m not that well connected and Krystal just said ‘don’t worry about it, I know what to do’.”

The five women, all connected by LeBreton, began planning in a WhatsApp group chat, some without ever meeting before.

“I feel like I’ve known these ladies forever now,” said Sysoieva, who came to Peterborough seven years ago with her two sons.

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Sysoieva’s mother, sister, grandfather and uncle were living in Western Ukraine. Since the invasion her mother and 86 year old grandfather have evacuated to Poland, though her sister and Uncle chose to stay. Her sister is volunteering with relief teams while looking after her uncle, who was a firefighter at the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant during the 1986 disaster.

Sysoieva’s sister will help decide what to do with part of the funds raised at the event, as she knows what Ukrainians on the ground need.

Funds will also be donated to Meest, an organization that is delivering humanitarian supplies to Ukraine, and to World Central Kitchen, an organization delivering fresh meals to recently liberated Ukrainian cities.

The event, hosted at St Theresa’s Elementary School will take place from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. on April 30. It will feature a raffle, silent auction, bake sale, a 1 km race and more. Sysoieva has also been working hard to teach the other organizers how to make authentic Ukrainian perogies, which will be sold at the fundraiser both fresh and frozen.

“The reaction from the community has been overwhelming,” said Logan. “We’ve already seen so much support and donations coming in from people we don’t even know.”

“There’s been a lot of small businesses owners that have reached out to donate an item or a service which just shows what an amazing community Peterborough is,” said Mahoney Scriver.

Organizers have been posting silent auction items as they have been donated in their Facebook group.

Some items up for grabs are pieces by local artists, gift certificates for 4th Line Theatre, Wildfire Golf Club, massages, local photographers and more.

They are still accepting donations for raffle and silent auction prizes and note that no donation is too small.

To donate a prize or keep updated on the event visit their Facebook page.

“Its not just about Ukraine,” said Sysoieva. “It’s about the truth, it’s about democracy, it’s about beliefs and being who we are. Having rights and living the way we want to live. I think people are recognizing that.”

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Tilly Stimpson Raises Over $8,000 For Type 1 Diabetes Research

Tilly Stimpson, a grade 9 student at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School, has raised over $8,000 for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) after being chosen as one of their 100 Ambassadors of History.

2022 marks the 100th anniversary of the first injection of insulin.

To mark the milestone JDRF is hosting the ‘Lets Make History Again Campaign’ which aims to raise money that will fund valuable research to fund a cure for Type One Diabetes.

The 100 Ambassadors of History, which is the group Stimpson is a part of, is a special group of Canadians who will each host their own fundraiser to contribute to the campaign.

Stimpson decided that this year she would fundraise online and climb the 100 steps of the Lift Locks for every $100 raised.

“Initially our goal was $1,000,” said Jo, Tilly’s mother. “When we broke that we just kept upping the goal. And now $8,000 - that’s unbelievable. Every other time we’ve fundraised we usually tapped out around $2,500, we are just blown away.”

Stimpson noted how grateful she was to those that donated, especially with everything going on in the world.

“I can’t believe how much I’ve raised, especially during COVID and the war. I know people have been struggling through that so I just really cannot believe how much I’ve raised.”

As one of the 100 Ambassadors of History, Stimpson had the opportunity to visit one of the five ‘Leaders in History’ a top a flagpole in Toronto.

The Leaders in History are five chosen Canadians living with Type 1 Diabetes that camp a top flagpoles in five different cities, for 100 hours, or until $15 million is raised.

Stimpson was lifted into the 40-foot flagpole and had the chance to talk to Vanessa Oliver, Toronto’s Leader in History, who’s father started the tradition of the flagpole campout 32 years ago, when his daughter was diagnosed with T1D.

Stimpson will continue to accept donations to her campaign until the end of May.

She says while the money raised will contribute to valuable research, she mainly wants to raise awareness about the disease she lives with daily.

“I want to raise awareness, obviously people know about diabetes - but they need to know more - especially kids at school,” said Stimpson.

Both Tilly and Jo agree that people often think Type One Diabetes and Type Two Diabetes are the same thing. Though in reality, T1D has nothing to do with lifestyle or diet, it’s simply due to the pancreas’s inability to create insulin, they say.

“Research needs money,” said Jo. “This amount of money they’ve raised is significant. I feel like we’re close. I know everyone always says that, but I really think we are. Lives are being improved. It may not be a cure yet, but lives are being improved for sure.”

To donate to Stimpson’s cause, click here. To follow along on Tilly’s journey on Instagram follow her @diabetes.the.bully

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Pink in the Rink Raises Over $75,000 In Cancer Fundraiser, Petes Clinch Playoff Spot In 5-1 Win

It was a special night for philanthropy and hockey for the Peterborough Petes’ 13th annual Pink in the Rink game.

The fundraiser collected a total of $76,952.18 for the Canadian Cancer Society as the Petes clinched the final playoff spot in a 5-1 win over the Niagara IceDogs Saturday night.

Over the past 13 years, the Petes have raised just shy of $900,000 through Pink in the Rink in support of the Canadian Cancer Society. The Petes own the top spot in the OHL and CHL with 18 shorthanded goals this season. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The game had 3,228 fans at the Peterborough Memorial Centre, a season-high record. The fundraiser’s original goal was $50,000.

The Petes never lost the lead in their 5-1 victory over the IceDogs. The home team had five different goal-scorers as defenceman Konnor Smith opened the scoring while forwards Quinton Pagé, Emmett Sproule, Tucker Robertson (short-handed) and J.R. Avon scored (short-handed).

Goaltender Michael Simpson made 20 saves and earned his 18th win of the season.

@ptbo_canada The @petesohlhockey raised money for cancer research for their “Pink in the Rink” fundraising campaign! They also clinched a playoff spot with a 5-1 win over the Niagara IceDogs! #ohl #pinkintherink #gopetesgo #cancerresearch #hockey #ptbo #ptbocanada ♬ Saturday - twenty one pilots

Players wore special Pink in the Rink fundraising sweaters —with the design revealed on March 15 — and were sold in a post-game live auction.

Tucker Robertson’s jersey sold for a record-setting $3,100. Other fundraising initiatives at the game included chuck-a-ball, silent auction, bucket donations, t-shirt sales and online fundraisers.

Petes alumnus and former captain Doug Gibson and Global News Peterborough sports anchor Meaghan Roy were this year’s co-chairs, raising a combined $13,425,28.

The game was played on a make-up date and was originally scheduled for Feb. 5. It was delayed due to temporary COVID-19 restrictions.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Red X Technologies Donates $60,000 Of Hardware And Technology To Peterborough Humane Society

Mark Garrard with Red X Technologies Inc. has provided the Peterborough Humane Society with over $60,000 worth of hardware and technology.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough Humane Society.

Garrard, proud owner of Cooper the Golden Doodle, says he knows what the Humane Society does for the community.

“The value of having such a great team at the humane society in our community is priceless,” he said. “What they offer now, and what they will be able to offer with their new facility will be so great for pet owners and animals in need.”

Red X Technologies Inc. donated supplies like multi-function devices, photocopiers and printers, to assist the staff at The Peterborough Humane Society in their daily work.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

YWCA Hosts 'Challenge For Mom' To Raise Fund For Programs That Help Mothers In Need

YWCA invites local businesses and community members to show their support for women experiencing gender-based violence by joining the YWCA Challenge for Mom, a fundraiser on from May 1 until Mother’s Day (May 8).

Stock Photo.

“The YWCA Challenge for Mom is an opportunity to engage with members of our community and ensure that there is widespread knowledge of the resources that continue to be available at the YWCA for women and their children, while also working together to raise funds for core shelter and support services,” said Ria Nicholson, YWCA.

Community members are encouraged to visit www.ywcapeterborough.org, set a fundraising goal, and invite family, friends and coworkers to make a donation online or support them in accomplishing a fundraising activity.

Participants who raise $250 or more will be entered in a draw to win one of three prizes, kindly donated by local businesses (details available online).

“Violence against women has intensified. Locally, the need for YWCA shelter and support services for women and children increased by 30% during the pandemic. We’ve also witnessed an alarming increase in the severity of abuse being inflicted,” said YWCA Executive Director, Kim Dolan.

Proceeds from the initiative will fund YWCA programs that receive only partial government funding, including Crossroads Shelter, Haliburton Emergency Rural SafeSpace (HERS), Family Court Support, Transition Support, Nourish, and more.

To learn more about how the pandemic has intensified violence against women, or to discuss possible corporate partnership opportunities visit www.ywcapeterborough.org or contact Ria Nicholson, YWCA Lead Philanthropic Advisor at 705-743-3526 x113 or rnicholson@ywcapeterborough.org.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Local Man Continues to Fundraise for Ukrainian Efforts With Community's Help

After raising over $17,000 in a soccer equipment sale for Ukrainian efforts, Peterborough’s Victor Waselenko is continuing his aid asking the community’s help for $100,000.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The funds go towards the Red Cross in a campaign called “PeterboroughHelpsUkraine.”

The initial soccer equipment fundraiser — selling soccer apparel, footwear and equipment at half price — was held last Saturday at Hybrid Sports. The $10,000 goal was easily surpassed as the event raised $17,421.50 that has been placed into the fundraiser account.

“It was a great day and the people of Peterborough were extremely supportive,” said Waselenko.

The first-generation Ukranian said he wanted to create a medium for the public to help Ukraine.

“I know that people want to help and contribute but they sometimes do not know where or how to do that,” said Waselenko.

If you would like to donate to Waselenko’s fundraiser, click here.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Two Ukrainian Trent Students Are Rallying The Community To Support Their Home Country

Uliana Karpukhina and Mykhailo Rangiev, Ukrainian students studying at Trent University and members of Trent’s Russian Speaking Association (TURSA) are asking the community to contribute to two fundraisers; one to supply medical supplies to Ukraine, and one to help get children out of the war torn country.

Mykhailo Rangiev. Photo courtesy of Uliana Karpukhina.

Karpukhina’s mother and younger brother were able to get out of Ukraine and are currently in Spain, though her father had to stay behind.

Together with her mother, they are working to help children who have lost their parents evacuate Ukraine and find safety in Spain. Money contributed to their GoFundMe will help to pay the rent of the house they are staying in, groceries, diapers and clothes.

Rangiev has been in Canada for about five years now. His family remains in Ukraine volunteering.

He, along with the TURSA are asking to community for donations of medical supplies to send to the front lines of Ukraine.

“It would be nice to be able to accept physical donations,” he said. “But there are very specific things there that are needed - not just aspirin and bandages.”

With donations Rangiev will purchase supplies suggested by his family members directly in Ukraine. He will deliver the supplies to a shipping company in the GTA, that is flying supplies to Ukraine for free.

Donations can be sent to tursa22@gmail.com.

In addition to these two fundraisers, Rangiev is also raising money for Ukrainian students in Peterborough that may not have access to funds now, though he says the community exceeded his expectations with that fundraiser and he would like to focus on supplies now.

Both Rangiev and Karpukhina agree that Peterborough has been so supportive of the Ukrainian community as news comes out of the horrors in Ukraine.

“It was terrifying at first, seeing the news and not knowing if your family is ok,” said Karpukhina. “It’s easier now, but it’s still going on there, it’s still our country and our heritage - it’s part of our identity.”

“I wanted to do everything I could to help,” said Rangiev.

He says for the first few days of the Russian invasion he was in Etobicoke every day packing humanitarian supplies to be shipped to Ukraine.

“I initially thought to go back to Ukraine because the whole thing is so outrageous, but my Dad convinced me that at least for now I will be more helpful here and can help refugees that will come,” he said.

Karpukhina says seeing Ukrainian flags, ribbons and sunflowers around Peterborough has been amazing.

“In my neighborhood there’s a little kid who is about eight year old,” said Karpukhina. “He has ribbons and he’s been putting them up everywhere on trees and posts - I really notice them. It’s so cute and nice to see kids showing initiative.”

“It’s amazing to see such great support,” said Rangiev.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Easter Seals and YMCA Receive $15,000 From Carl Oake Rotary Swim

After months of crazy stunts such as downhill sledding, fire hoses and shopping carts off docks, Rotary Club of Peterborough’s Carl Oake Rotary Swim has raised $15,000 for Easter Seals Ontario and the YMCA in a cheque presentation on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of Rotary Club of Peterborough.

Easter Seals received $12,000 while the YMCA got $3,000 of the total donation.

The 36th annual Carl Oake Rotary Swimathon was held on Feb. 25 where individuals or teams were encouraged to swim a few laps at the YMCA to raise money Easter Seals and Rotary Projects.

Those unable to attend were encouraged to do a virtual at-home swim or splash at home while raising funds and sharing it on social media tagging the fundraising’s Facebook page.

To date, over $1.3 million dollars has been raised.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.