The Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Manitoba opted for something new this year in the form of a fundraiser. An exhibition sledge hockey game was held in Winkler over the weekend, saw members of the Morden Fire Department take on a team of sledge hockey players made up of a variety of ages.
    
Morden's Connie Hesom, who is president of the association, says she was thrilled for all the support for Spina Bifida Manitoba.

She says a number of families drove out from areas like Winnipeg and Carman, and she was amazed by the many sledge hockey players that attended.  Hesom says a lot of the older players were in Kenora the day before for the community's hockey day, and they still made it out Saturday to support this fundraiser. Hesom says she is also very grateful to the members of the Morden Fire Department who came out to support the cause.

Hesom, whose nine-year-old son Evan has spina bifida, and has played sledge hockey in Winnipeg for five years, says the sport has had a big impact in his life. "Evan goes to regular public school in Morden and there aren't a lot of kids with physical disabilities there. So some days he comes home quite frustrated saying, why can't I do this the same as this person?"  She says on the ice, each player has something different, but everyone can get in the sled and have fun.

The inaugural sledge hockey fundraiser in support of the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Manitoba raised $1,250. "Any little bit that we get is more than we had," said Hesom.  

Hesom says the money will go towards three funds.  "We have a benevolent fund for families that have extended hospital stays to pay for costs, we have a recreation fund...and we have a medical fund."  She notes once people are a member of the association they can apply for funds from the three programs, and from there they distribute funds accordingly.