Call it sweet serendipity.
When MAHCP’s Communications Committee recommended to Executive Council late last year that we sponsor the Ironman Outdoor Curling Bonspiel this February, we had no idea that the event’s honouree would be one of our own.
Michael Kleiman, who has been an MAHCP member for 19 years and has served on the board going back 18 years, is the Bonspiel’s 2019 honouree and we couldn’t be more pleased and prouder!
And Michael is challenging all MAHCP members to donate to this worthy cause, “I started it off today with a $100 donation,” he said this past weekend. To donate, please visit www.ironmancurling.com
Michael, who has Premature Coronary Artery Disease, was chosen as the honouree because of his “Never give up” attitude when faced with the effects of this disease.
On the ironmancurling.com website, the official announcement states “It is the hope of this year’s Ironman Outdoor Curling Bonspiel committee that our honouree, Michael Kleiman, with one of the biggest hearts we’ve ever known has his hopes and dreams come true. Michael you are truly an Ironman!”
He first sought medical attention for his chest pain in 2005. Soon after, he received a quadruple bypass, and in the intervening years has seen blockages, stents and lesions. As stated in the Ironman announcement, “Replacing the heart would be a logical conclusion to the uneducated; however, even after a quadruple bypass, two almost heart attacks, two full heart attacks, insertions of multiple stents, and angina, every day the words out of Michael’s mouth are “I’m not sick enough.”
Click here to read the entire announcement on the Ironman site.
This bonspiel, which raises much-needed funds for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, takes place Feb. 1 to 3, 2019, at The Forks on the Red River.
Not only will MAHCP be a sponsor, we will also be fielding a team to participate in the tournament.
This team is being led by MAHCP President Bob Moroz, who is an avid curler when he’s not out in the public fighting for the rights of his members.
We still have a couple spaces on the team left to fill, so if you are an MAHCP member (or a direct family member) who is interested in being on the team and have your own curling equipment, please send an email to info@mahcp.ca with “Ironman Bonspiel” in the subject line and your contact info.
This annual bonspiel has raised over $102,078.50 for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. The goal for 2019 is $15,000.
We look forward to seeing our Team MAHCP “hurry hard” for the Heart and Stroke Foundation!