Bryce's army of support raising funds

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By John Curry

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Organizers of the Refuse2Lose Campaign to raise funds for youthful cancer fighter Bryce Jude and his family who are at the recent fundraising pub night at Tail Gators on Merivale Road in Ottawa are, at the front, Alecia O'Brien, and, back row, left to right, Lindsay Dickson, Maria Brown, Joanna O'Connor, Ilana Shore and Kerri Watkins.

Courtesy of Jojo Design - Joanna Gajdicar

Organizers of the Refuse2Lose Campaign to raise funds for youthful cancer fighter Bryce Jude and his family who are at the recent fundraising pub night at Tail Gators on Merivale Road in Ottawa are, at the front, Alecia O'Brien, and, back row, left to right, Lindsay Dickson, Maria Brown, Joanna O'Connor, Ilana Shore and Kerri Watkins.

EMC News - Six year old Bryce Jude, a student at A. Lorne Cassidy Elementary School in Stittsville, is in the battle of his life right now, fighting a rare type of leukemia. But he has an army of supporters in the community that is raising funds and awareness so that Bryce and his family can focus on their medical fight.

And what an army of support there is. It's Team Bryce with its Refuse2Lose campaign.

Two recent fundraising events within days of each other have raised close to $27,000, adding to the ever-increasing fundraising total initially set at $30,000. But as in any battle, the unexpected happens. So it has been with Bryce who recently had to undergo an unplanned round of surgery at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto to clear up some infections on his lung. This had to be done before his planned stem cell transplant could proceed. And, indeed, it delayed the transplant, adding to the expenses being incurred as his parents, Steve and Dev Jude, are there in Toronto with him while his siblings are back here with relatives.

On Wednesday, Jan. 25, a Refuse2Lose Gala Evening was held at the Wildwood Steak and Chophouse at the Amberwood Golf and Country Club, where almost 100 of Bryce's army of supporters, paying $100 each, assembled for an evening of fine wine and foods which included cocktails, a three course meal and silent and live auctions hosted by Mark Papousek of Y101 Radio.

When it was over, thanks to the generosity of so many, the fundraising total was higher than expected at just a little less than $20,000.

"Of all the fundraising I've done, I think the silent auction table was the greatest," said Maureen Boucher, general manager of the Amberwood Golf and Country Club and the chief organizer for the event. It included signed Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens jerseys and lots of hockey tickets including a pair to the skills competition on All-Star Weekend.

But the gala was so successful not only because of the great items in the silent and live auctions that evening but also because so many were so generous. For instance, Cysco, which supplies the restaurant industry, donated all of the food for the dinner and the earlier cocktail party. This means that expenses were held to a minimum.

"People were so generous," Ms. Boucher said, calling the whole event "one of the most rewarding things I've done in my life." She said that absolutely everyone who was asked to support the event did so without exception.

There were also exceptional volunteer efforts made, with some individuals going far beyond what could normally be expected, whether it was in collecting door prizes or in soliciting items for the auctions.

Richard Yee and his staff at the Wildwood Steak and Chophouse all volunteered their time for the evening.

"I'm really, really proud of the community," Ms. Boucher said.

Donna and Doug Jude, grandparents of Bryce, were in attendance representing the family. Indeed, it is a longstanding friendship with them that got Maureen Boucher and her husband Bill involved in the Refuse2Lose Campaign as they both felt that they had to do something to help their longtime friends and their family.

This Refuse2Lose Gala Evening came just days after another hugely successful fundraiser in support of Bryce Jude, a pub night at Tail Gators on Merivale Road in Ottawa.

Over $7,000 was raised at this event with all of the funds raised going to cover costs like accommodation costs in Toronto for parents Steve and Dev Jude so that they can be with Bryce as he undergoes his treatment at Sick Kids Hospital.

This pub night featured the live music of the bands Pace Rock and Rocksmith Bank, with the energy at the event kept high thanks to the efforts of Darryl Kornicky from The Bear 106.9 FM.

There were door prizes, raffles, pool tables and lots of party fun to make the evening a great time for all who attended.

The silent auction helped raise much of the funds raised, thanks to the many organizations and individuals who donated the items.