From left to right: Doug Simoneau, Tanner Sagrafena, Darcy Draper, Kyle Draper, Blair Barlett from Hinton and Chris Bish from Fort McMurray, shaved their hair and moustaches as a fundraiser for the RickRyp Foundation. The crew, with the help of co-workers from CNRL raised almost $11,000.
LISA SYGUTEK
Pass Herald Staff
The Rick Rypien Memorial Hockey Camp and Golf tournament is over, but the funds raised by them for the RickyRyp foundation will go to helping those in need throughout the area.
Rick Rypien was a former hockey player who played for the Vancouver Canucks, and was signed with the Winnipeg Jets but unfortunately took his own life before he had the chance to play for the team.
In remembrance of his life and accomplishments the foundation held a fundraising golf tournament, which took place on August 9th, and finished on August 10th.
The Rick Rypien Memorial Hockey Camp, which honours Rypien’s legacy as a hockey player and coach for previous camps, began August 9th ending with a shinny game for all participants.
“I think it’s good for the community, and it is important to remember Rick,” said brother Wes Rypien. “I also think it’s great for the kids to meet the hockey players from the community who have pursued their goal. It will be a good experience for them.”
As a means of gathering donations for the foundation, local Kyle Draper, a good friend of Rick Rypien, announced to co-workers that he would shave his head to raise money. Draper works in Fort McMurray for CNRL. Within a few days more people joined the fundraising venture. According to Draper, “three weeks ago I made the announcement at work that I would shave my head for the foundation. I told everyone on the crew what the foundation was about and where the money goes”. With the announcement Draper’s dad Darcy joined the shaving cause the next day. “My dad said to everyone if we both raise $2000 then he’d shave his moustache and hair.” Tanner Sagrafena another local and friend who work at CNRL said, “if they raise $4000 I’ll shave my head”. Doug Simoneau, another local joined, “for $5000 I’ll shave my head”.
Two co-workers of Drapers also joined the cause. Blair Barlett and Chris Bish, a supervisor, of the crew stated that for $10,000 they would also shave their heads. To date the groups of five have raised, through the help of their B & D crew, close to $11,000.
According to Draper, “all money will go to the RickyRyp Foundation”.
