For Immediate Release
March 26, 2015
Beardy’s & Okemasis First Nation, Treaty 6 – Representatives of the Children’s Wish Foundation – Saskatchewan, and Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment were on hand to grant Garrett Gamble, Jr., (G-Man) his wish to spend 3 days with the Toronto Maple Leafs – his favourite NHL hockey team – at a surprise announcement ceremony Thursday morning at Stobart Community School in Duck Lake, SK.
Garrett was born with a rare disorder called Morquio Syndrome, also known as mucopolysaccharidosis IV. Morquio Syndrome is a rare disease that affects major organ systems in the body. The disease is a form of mucopolysaccharidosis, which is a type of lysosomal storage disorder. Morquio Syndrome can cause serious problems, including heart disease, skeletal abnormalities, vision and hearing loss, difficulty breathing, and early death.
G-Man left for Toronto for 3 days today with his sister Shireen, his dad Garrett, and his mom Carrie, where on Friday he will tour the Hockey Hall of Fame, have a pre-game skate with the Leafs, sign a 1-day contract with Brendan Shanahan, and get his own locker (complete with name plate and Leafs jersey). On Saturday’s televised game against the Ottawa Senators, G-Man will drop the ceremonial puck, have brief pre-game skate with Wendel Clark, be announced as the 1st Star of the Game, and present the 2nd and 3rd Stars of the Game.
My mind is all over the place right now” said Carrie Sutherland, mother of Garrett Jr. “This is a trip of a lifetime, and I’m so grateful to the Children’s Wish Foundation for providing us with this opportunity. Whenever we go on medical trips , we don’t get to experience things because we’re so busy with the doctor. It will be amazing for my children to actually experience the benefits of travel and something new!
The Children’s Wish Foundation is a uniquely Canadian charity that helps Canadian children, families and communities by granting the favourite wish of a child diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.
Click to view pictures from the Special Announcement.
Special thanks to the Beardy’s & Okemasis First Nation, Windy Poplar Farms, the BOFN Powwow Committee, the Sisip Sakahikan Community Development Trust, Native American Resource Partners, SAL Engineering, and MNP for their generous financial contributions.
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For more information, please contact:
Chief & Council Communications, communications@beardysband.com
