Ski for Heart Lake Louise was a HUGE Success! My sincerest "THANK YOU" for all who supported and donated to this worthy cause.

Event Recap
The 30th Annual Ski for Heart 2005, hosted at the beautiful Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, proved to be an overwhelming success this year!!! Over 130 families braved the cold weather to enjoy a wonderful weekend of relaxation, heart healthy activity and raise an amazing $105,000 in support of heart and stroke research, and health promotion programs in Alberta.

Despite the bitterly cold weather on Saturday morning, Darrel Janz, in his 15th year as official starter, stood before a committed and enthusiastic group to kick-off a great a day of cross-country skiing (once they got moving of course). I also know that some participants braved the cold weather to hit the slopes at Lake Louise Ski Resort and despite the -25 degree weather had a fun day carving up the slopes.
 
Saturday night’s Gala dinner also proved to be a big hit. Thank you to the Chateau management and staff for a fantastic job of hosting this great party. The ballroom was beautifully decorated and I can’t say enough about the wonderful meal and the great service. I want to say a special thanks to Wendy Anderson for all of her help and guidance in organizing this memorable evening.

It was a tight race for this year’s top fundraisers with a mere few dollars separating the top 10. Thank you to the fundraisers for their outstanding efforts. Here are the top ten:
 
1. Bob Lehodey - $15,791.00
2. Anne & Sonny Belenkie - $4000.00
3. Dr. Hank & Helen Ter Keurs - $3405.00
4. Elaine & Mart Kernahan - $2550.00
5. Ty Snaith - $2546.00
6. David Strong & Marilyn Dunne - $2545.00
7. Denise & Matt Woofter - $2200.00
8. Art & Daphne Yeske - $2155.00
9. Robert & Linda Hohol - $2100.00
10. Arnold Woelfle - $2000.00

Here is a quick review of the weekend:

• Darrel Janz hosted the 30th Anniversary GALA CELEBRATION
• Held at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
• Families participated in activities such as down hill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, hockey, walking
• Hosted by Pfizer Canada
• 36 Individual and Company Sponsors
• $105,000 was raised at this event for 2005
• $90,000 was raised last year
• Surpassed the fund raising goals for 2005
• $40,000 was raised at Kananaskis Ski for Heart
• $95,000 was raised at Jasper Ski for Heart

With your donations and our marketing efforts, we as a family raised our targeted amount of $2,000. Darryl Janz honored me with a beautiful picture frame in recognition of being the top 10 fundraiser at Lake Louise's first year .

With the amounts collected, The Heart and Stroke Foundation will continue to fund local research, promote healthy living and work with government advocacies to inform the public. From my heart, I would like to personally "THANK YOU" once again for your vision and donations.

Have a prosperous and healthy 2005. We will touch base again next winter to continue supporting the Heart & Stroke Foundation.

Marg, Arnold, Jessica, Joshua & Derek Woelfle.

P.S.
A Great Story from Ski for Heart 2005
This is a story about a 9-year-old girl whose mother has taught her, over the past 5 years, to save part of her allowance for charities. This year the young girl decided to donate part of her charity savings to the Heart and Stroke Foundation because a family friend had experienced a series of strokes this spring.

The child's tutor joined us at Ski for Heart 2005, and when she mentioned that she was participating, the child said she would like to pledge for the event. As this young girl gave the tutor a $20 dollar bill, the tutor thought, "How generous for a 9-year-old!" and was impressed. Imagine her surprise as the child continued to give her 6 more $20 dollar bills! In total, this 9 year-old donated $140 from her savings to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

The most heartwarming aspect is that this child has been taught that giving to charity is something that is important, something that is a natural progression, like saving for education, and spending on daily needs......truly honorable in one so young.