A war veteran keeps a promise, and Sporting Christmas donors remember family and friends
Reg "Crash" Harrison — "now four months into my 102nd year" — is keeping a promise he made when he turned 90 many, many years ago.
Article content
Today’s Sporting Christmas donation list is long and filled with gifts local for local families, and I’m told Santa is beaming proudly from his North Pole perch more than 4,000 kilometres away.
Reg “Crash” Harrison — “now four months into my 102nd year” — is keeping a promise he made when he turned 90 many, many years ago. The Second World War bomber pilot, who had enough close scrapes to well and truly earn his nickname, pledged to increase his annual donation by $25 each year. And he’s a man of his word, passing along his incrementally-larger gift along with a hand-written letter.
“We all know how much food prices have increased, and the enclosed cheque will help the Salvation Army to purchase a few turkeys or a ham,” Reg writes.
“I hope the lack of snow and warm temperatures will not deter people from donating to Sporting Christmas. Last year was a good year for Sporting Christmas, and it would be a nice boost to the Salvation Army if this year’s total could equal last year. The need for funds is greater this year than last year.”
Reg adds a hearty “Merry Christmas to all” and we wish the same to him.
“Lost some close friends and loved ones during the year, including Bonnie’s dad Bill Lloyd. We remember them this Christmas,” write Tim, Bonnie, Ty and Bailey Gitzel, whose extremely generous donation to our cause every year provides many area families with a merrier Christmas.
Bea Rochelle notes that for many years she and husband Rocky rang the Salvation Army bells, and they’re long-time donors — first in memory of their parents, and for the last seven years, Rocky.
“Thank you for the opportunity to do this,” Bea writes. “They all supported the work the Salvation Army does.”
“I am so happy,” writes Corrine Weiman, “to donate to Sporting Christmas as I do every year on behalf of my dear grandson, Michael Manderscheid. This year is a special year for sledge hockey (now called para hockey). This is the inaugural year for para hockey to be under the direction of Hockey Sask. In addition, Moose Jaw was the first Canadian city to be the host for World Para Ice Hockey in March of 2023.
“Michael started playing sledge hockey when he was eight and played until he passed away. Michael loved the excitement of para hockey and the competition. He would be so happy that para hockey is finally taking off and getting the recognition that the sport deserves!”
We’re also happy today to hear from the Mixers hockey team, the Saskatoon Hilltops, the Saskatoon Basketball Officials Association, and the Saskatoon Secondary Schools Athletic Directorate — good sports, each and every one.
We made a big leap today as we help the Salvation Army with its Christmas hamper program, and there’s still time to give.
Online donations can be made at thestarphoenix.com/sportingchristmas
Mailed donations can be sent to:
Sporting Christmas
c/o The Salvation Army
38 Bateman Cresc.
Saskatoon, Sask.
S7H 3C4
You can also drop your gift off in person at the above address. Please be sure to mark it as a Sporting Christmas donation.
Thanks to today’s Santas:
Memory of Marilyn Walter from the Howey family: $100
Loving memory of our parents, Ken and Bunee Rowley, Jules and Marge Michasiw, and nephew Alex Rode from Rick and Bonnie Rowley: $100
Memory of Elroy McNulty from wife Myrtle, children Darrel and Bless, Glynis and Jody and the grandchildren: $100
Loving memory of those we have lost — Herman and Lorraine Suer, Karen Willis, John Kurja, Amy and Tony Beck, Erwin, Bernice and Ken Beck — From Gil and Janet Beck: $150
Virginia Dowler: $100
Loving memory of Peter Korthuis, from his family: $200
Saskatoon Secondary Schools Athletic Directorate: $300
Wayne and Colleen Guenther: $200
Memory of Shirley Mae Hunt, wife, mother, grandmother, friend. Gone but never forgotten. From the Lester Hunt Family: $100
Memory of my husband, Greg Mylks, from Lorna Clarke: $100
Happy Holidays from the Saskatoon Hilltops Football Club: $600
Memory of my parents, Mike and Alice Dmytriw, from David: $200
Loving memory of my husband (father, Poppa, brother …), Leo Latta, who loved sports, and loved to see children involved, from Lynn Latta: $100
Memory of Sandra, who loved watching all sports, from Lynn Adamson: $100
In appreciation for the encouragement and support sent to Joanne from her many friends. From Terry and Joanne Kachur: $100
Memory of four great friends and golf partners: David Kidd, Larry Lynch, John Yano and Wayne Yanz. Remembered and missed by Peter Nicholson: $200
Sheree and Jay’s change: $50
From Teresa Reynolds in memory of my husband Walter: $100
Memory of Bud Johns from Beth, Judy and Mike: $100
Memory of Jackie MacEachern from Earl and Frances MacEachern: $40
Anonymous: $400
Memory of my Secret Santa buddies — Barb Racine and Denny Carr, from Linda Bahr: $100
Memory of Michael Manderscheid from Corrine Weiman: $50
Saskatoon Basketball Officials Association: $300
Memory of Rocky and our parents from Bea Rochelle: $100
Mildred Sinclair: $100
Memory of Veronica, Lorne, Lou, Les, Maurice and Herb: $125
Memory of my grandson Mark Wilson, who loved playing and coaching soccer, from Joyce Wilson: $100
Memory of my nephew, Donald Burke, from Colleen (Burke) and Terry Ewanchyna: $100
Reg Harrison: $350
Memory of Don and Dianne Riley and Beth Elliot, from Rod and Lynn Brick: $25
Memory of Roy, Edna, Brian from the Moore Family: $75
Continuing the family tradition of donating at Christmas, from Andrew Taylor: $200
Remembering Rolly Bouvier and in support of a worthy organization, from Janet Rose-Bouvier: $100
Memory of Moe, Bro, Mac and Kerry: $200
Loving memory of my husband Bill Wist, from wife Donna. Also remembering my dear brother, Tom Williams, who passed away this year. Peace and Love to all: $100
Memory of Fred and Myrtle Puffer and Fred Puffer Jr., from Sharon Fyke: $150
Anonymous: $150
Loving memory of Al Toews, Larry McWilliams and Elaine Burling and many trips we enjoyed together, from Garry Burling: $500
Memory of Larry Thome from the Sedgwicks: $100
Memory of the Mixer ‘Away’ Team, whose members include Morris Zuk, Ron Boskill, Dave England, Ken Dobchuk, Stu Cochrane, Pat Meldrum, Jack Merrick, Connie Millson and Gloria Jorgenson, from the Mixer Hockey club celebrating their 46th year: $1,500
Memory of Brian MacPherson from Ann and Jack Rowley: $200
Memory of my son Troy, and my father Ron, from Ken Legge: $200
Bonnie Erickson-Wudrick: $50
We send our yearly donation with gratitude to the Salvation Army for meeting the needs of those who need a helping hand. The Saini Family: $120
Bill Armstrong: $100
Loving memory of Keith Brekke and Agnes and Jim Crowe, from the Brekke family: $200
Memory of our Dads, Mac Savage Sr. and Norman Thoen. They both loved baseball and also supported the Salvation Army. From Sandra and Bob Savage: $200
Loving memory of Harry Dahl from Beverly Dahl: $200
Memory of Arley Wieler from the Friday Fox Fellows: $220
Memory of our parents from Wes and Donna Jamieson: $100
Memory of Ferne Abrosimoff, devoted and passionate Rider fan, from Doug Abrosimoff: $60
Loving memory of my husband Bill Jack, from Wanda Jack: $100
Memory of Gib Balkwill, born on Christmas Day in 1930. The Balkwill Family: $93
Loving memory of Michael Derksen and Carrielynn Hanson from Tim Derksen: $60
Memory of Bill Lloyd, and close friends and loved ones lost during the year, from Tim, Bonnie, Ty and Bailey Gitzel: $5,000
Loving memory of John and Ron Deutscher, from your family: $150
In recognition of the sporting contributions of Derek Bidwell and Nicole (Bidwell) Green. The Bidwells thank you for helping those in our community who need our support: $60
Memory of Al Toews from Marie Toews: $500
Memory of Wally Kost Sr., Wally and Becky Kost, and Greg Eyolfson: $500
Today’s total: $15,978
TOTAL TO DATE: $54,151
The Saskatoon StarPhoenix has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe.
With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark TheStarPhoenix.com and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.