Langley captain Brendan O'Grady; Evelina Sadovska of the Maple Hope Foundation; anthem singers Mykhaylo Gadechuk, Lena Keshysheva, Yaroslava Tanko, and Olesya Rud; Whalers president Ronnie Paterson; and captain Tyler Price. Paterson presented a cheque for $3,500 to two 🇺🇦 Ukrainian charities on March 26.
Pod assists Maple Hope Foundation, Catholic charities
SOUTH SURREY ARENA – For the second time this postseason, the Whalers hosted a Ukrainian-themed fundraiser to help the millions of women and children displaced from their homeland.
Throughout Game 4 of the Ray Stonehouse Cup final, volunteers from the Maple Hope Foundation and the local Ukrainian Catholic Church sold handcrafted national flags, headbands, blue and yellow ribbons and other homemade items on March 26.
Volunteers from the Maple Hope Foundation and the local Ukrainian Catholic Church sold handmade flags, headbands, ribbons and other items. All proceeds went to charity to help the millions of women and children displaced by the war in Ukraine.
Both the Maple Hope Foundation and Catholic charities are non-profit entities that provide support, aid and medical supplies to displaced Ukrainians.
Evelina Sadovska, a volunteer with the Maple Hope Foundation, thanked the Whalers for the “amazing opportunity” to support Ukraine.
The evening began when Whalers team president Ronnie Paterson delivered a cheque for $3,500 that will be equally divided between the two non-profits.
Throughout March, Paterson’s businesses – the Pioneer Pub in Richmond, Bucky’s West Coast Pizzeria in Surrey, and the Whalers – raised money. Additional funds were collected during Game 4.
Left to right: Mykhaylo Gadechuk, Lena Keshysheva, Yaroslava Tanko, and Olesya Rud sing the Ukrainian national anthem after Whalers president Ronnie Paterson (right) presented a cheque for $3,500 to charities. | Photo courtesy of Photo courtesy of David Stevens Photography.
Then, four singers – Mykhaylo Gadechuk, Lena Keshysheva, Yaroslava Tanko, and Olesya Rud – gave a soulful performance of the Ukrainian national anthem and O Canada.
“It was so heartwarming to hear the Ukrainian national anthem,” Sadovska said. She called the moment a “symbol of the unity” between Canada and Ukraine.
White Rock captain Tyler Price stood on the blue line during the vocal performance. “It’s awesome. I’ve never been a part of something like this,” he commented.
“The fact that we came out with a ‘W’ at the end? Perfect night.”
🇺🇦 Younger volunteers also helped the Whalers out in the stands on March 26.
🇺🇦 Whaler Jayson Beauregard puts a rebound in during an away game. | Photo courtesy of Alistair Burns, White Rock Whalers.
🇺🇦 Irena Shklover (left), Natalia Synelnyk, Evelina Sadovska, Mila Synytsa and Halyna Tymchuk fundraise for the Whalers Mar. 12.
🇺🇦 Irena Shklover (left), Natalia Synelnyk, Evelina Sadovska, Mila Synytsa and Halyna Tymchuk fundraise for the Whalers Mar. 12.
🇺🇦 Irena Shklover (left), Natalia Synelnyk, Evelina Sadovska, Mila Synytsa and Halyna Tymchuk fundraise for the Whalers Mar. 12.
