Elmira, Ont. Super Bowl tailgate doubles as cancer program fundraiser

An annual Super Bowl tailgate in Elmira marked its 10th year of raising money for cancer programs. CTV’s Krista Simpson has more.

A Super Bowl Sunday tradition that combines football, food and fundraising brought a crowd to an Elmira, Ont. home ahead of the big game.

The Williard Family Super Bowl Party is marking 10 years of raising money for cancer care programs.

It’s a cause close to organizer Scott Williard’s heart.

“This all started when my first wife passed away almost 26 years ago of cancer,” he told CTV News.

Williard said it was around that same time the cancer centre at what was then Grand River Hospital (now WRHN at Midtown, part of Waterloo Regional Health Network) was being built.

“And so we’ve just been backing that ever since.”

Sunday afternoon, Williard was cooking 120 lbs. of chicken wings outside, anticipating as many as 250 guests to come by ahead of the big game.

The party is a community effort that’s grown year after year, involving family, neighbours, friends and friends of friends who all gather in the Williard family’s driveway, garage and a tent.

“The first year, there was literally 15 people in our driveway, we did this as fun,” Williard recalled. “Now we’re like 200 to 250 people. It’s amazing and just everybody kicks in food, prizes, beer… it’s unreal.”

Pat Poser, the owner and partner at VP Mechanical Inc., has been one of the event’s supporters from the start.

Not only does Poser make a financial contribution to the cause, but he also brings a number of guests who are ready to give as well.

“I think it’s the best thing we could do for any community, to come out and support this,” Poser said.

Over the past nine years, Williard said just under $80,000 has been raised for cancer programs.

Most of the money goes to the Waterloo Regional Health Network, and this year some will be earmarked for Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre in Hamilton, as the Williards have a friend whose daughter is receiving treatment there.

Party attendees were also encouraged to consider donating blood, something else that can help people going through cancer treatment.

Blood donation clinics are scheduled in Elmira on Feb. 20 and March 13.

Rayna Porter, community development manager with Canadian Blood Services, was hopeful party guests would help fill the remaining openings for the February clinic.

“We have had so many people coming through, we’re hoping we’re going to fill the 35 remaining spots,” Porter said.

Attendees who meet age and health requirements were also asked to do a quick cheek swab for Canadian Blood Services’ stem cell registry, in hopes of increasing the pool of potential donors for those in need of a stem cell transplant.

Several were completed at the event.

“Everybody coming through that wants to, that meets our age requirement of 17 to 35, has been happy to throw their hand up and do a swab today, which has just been amazing,” Porter told CTV.

Williard said the annual Super Bowl party is a lot of work, but it’s hard to stop, as cancer continues to impact so many people’s lives.

“This year has a lot more meaning as a very good, dear friend of ours is starting treatment tomorrow.”