The annual TELUS Teddy Toss went on Friday, December 13 as the Drumheller Dragons took on the Calgary Canucks, and it didn’t take long for the fur to fly.
The annual game invited fans to bring a new stuffed toy to the game, and when the Dragons scored their first goal, fans tossed the bears on to the ice. This year the Teddy Toss benefited the Salvation Army, Big Country Victim Services and the Drumheller Health Centre and AHS ambulance.
It took only until the 3:52 mark for Nick De Beurs to find the net and unleash the bears.
Amanda Courtenay, family services coordinator for The Salvation Army said the toy drive was a success and they collected 428 stuffed toys.
This year’s Teddy Toss was held in memory of Sawyer Malansky, and the family was on hand for the event.
Sawyer was less than two years old when she was a victim of violence by a person trusted by the family. She did not recover from her injuries and died in her mother’s arms on March 6, 2015, at the age of 17 months.
“My daughter, Sawyer Malansky, was a happy bubbly, little girl that had a lifetime ahead of her. She was always full of personality, sass, and giggles. Her two older brothers adored her in every way. They instantly shared an Inseparable bond with their baby sister,” said her mother Nicole Malansky.
Victim Services played an important role for the family as they endured this tragedy.
“Victim services was a huge part of our lives after this. My boys were met at the hospital with teddy bears they still have today. Such a small gesture meant so much to my boys and me at this time in our lives,” said Nicole.
“My goal is to raise awareness and spread support as these things happen far too often in today’s world. So, we collect these teddy bears in memory of Sawyer and every other child and family that has been affected in any way by violence.”
