Terry Ames, who this year is celebrating the fact he has been cancer-free for the past 10 years, was more than pleased Thursday to announce the winners in his latest round of fundraising for the Northern Cancer Centre, through the Terry Ames Care Fund.
Ames is a cancer survivor who decided several years ago to pay it forward by helping to organize cancer fundraising drives in Sudbury in support of other Northerners and their families.
The latest effort was the 2021 Local Cancer Support Draw, held entirely online for the first time. The draw ended at noon Thursday with the names of several prize winners being drawn shortly afterward.
The draw, which was launched back in July, featured several prizes including golf passes, a gas grill barbecue, two paddle boards, a desk and chair set, and the grand prize of a 2022 Cadillac XT5 crossover vehicle.
Tannys Laughren, executive director of the Northern Cancer Foundation, welcomed the group to the prize draw event and announcement. She also described Ames "as a gift to the community" for his continuing support of the foundation by promoting the annual draw and ticket sales.
Anthony Keating, president and CDO of Foundations and Volunteer Groups at Health Sciences North, thanked the Ames family for their continued efforts in fundraising. He said the effort is especially appreciated because all the funds are raised locally and go to support local families and direct patient care.
"Thank you so much for the amazing work you do," Keating told Ames.
Keating also expressed thanks to the draw sponsors for their annual support.
This included Crosstown Chevrolet Ltd., Adventure 365, Bianco's Supercentre, Golf Sudbury, and Querney's Office Plus.
Ames told the event that he was pleased to be able to contribute to another annual draw and thanked everyone who purchased a ticket for their support. He too thanked the community-minded sponsors for their support with the prizes.
"This is our first year doing an online draw. We eliminated the paper tickets. It was a challenge, but we got through it," said Ames.
The Cancer Foundation issued a news release revealing that more than 7,800 tickets were sold, raising $75,000 for the Terry Ames Care Fund.
The foundation said in the four draws held since 2015, the fund has raised more than $290,000.
The major prize winners are:
- Lisa D'Agostino, 2022 Cadillac
- Paul Corsi, Timberwolf Golf Club passes
- Cindy Delorme, chair and desk
- Joanne Couette, paddle board
- Jessie Charbonneau, paddle board
- Rhoda Fortier, gas grill barbecue.