Camp Day fundraiser makes a splash for Canadian youth

By Lethbridge Herald on July 20, 2023.

Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman Mayor Blaine Hyggen dunks Lethbridge Police Service Sgt. Ryan Darroch during Tim Hortons Camp Day fundraiser Wednesday morning at the Scenic Drive restaurant.

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
LETHBRIDGE HERALD

For many a cup of Tim Hortons coffee in the morning is a must to start their day, and on Wednesday proceeds from that coffee became part of a country-wide fundraiser to help youth across Canada attend camp. 

Scenic Drive Tim Hortons owner Dave Lawlor spoke to media during their Camp Day event and said many youth would benefit from it across Canada. 

“All of proceeds today from coffee, ice coffee, Take 12s, all the money goes 100 per cent to the Tim Hortons Foundation camps for the betterment of children and youth across this fine country,” said Lawlor. 

One of the ways they raised funds was through a dunk tank where many took the opportunity to test their throwing skills in hopes of dunking Lethbridge Police Service Downtown Policing Unit Sergeant Ryan Darroch. 

Mayor Blaine Hyggen stopped by to test his throwing skills, and with his first throw he was able to dunk Sgt. Darroch and later on Lawlor, as well. 

“I made a bet with all the staff that the first person they can talk into a $100 donation, no matter what I would get up on the seat. So the mayor came down, I don’t know if they talked him into it or not on the side, but  it was his $100 pledge towards Camp Day that I got sucked into sitting on the seat,” said Lawlor. 

He said that thankfully it was a nice warm day so getting dunked in cold water was not too bad. 

Lawlor said the day was an opportunity for members of the community to give back, especially with four new children from Lethbridge being able to attend camp in Kananaskis. 

“We are looking forward to that, having the bus pick them up and see some happy faces for 10 days and have that experience,” said Lawlor. 

He said the foundation is hoping to raise $14 million across the country, with the funds being distributed across all the camps to cover costs for transporting children to the camps, all the expenses associated with their stay, camps operation and programs. 

Lawlor said in the 24 years he has been with Tim Hortons he has seen first-hand the impact camps have on the children who attend them. 

“It’s very sad to see children show up with all their belongings in a shopping bag, and they go to camp, they are afraid I’m sure, they don’t know what to expect, they spend 10 days and they come back different kids,” said Lawlor. 

He said during camp kids learn self-worth and in turn they give back when they can in a full-circle effect. 

“They get involved as well, they came from nothing and next thing you know they are leaders in the business world, in the medical field, wherever they want to be. They were certainly given an opportunity from the camp and it’s that full circle of ‘give back,’” said Lawlor. 

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