Thursday, January 12, 2023
VOLUME 5 I ISSUE 29
MERIDIANSOURCE.CA
Buzz the Bobcats brings in over $32,000 for mental health TAYLOR WEAVER
EDITOR
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The Lloydminster Bobcats beat the Canmore Eagles 7-4 on home ice last Saturday, but the real winners were local youth struggling with mental health. Last October, the Bobcats teamed up with the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation (LRHF) and started a fundraising campaign to support mental health initiatives and resources throughout the Lloydminster public and Lloydminster Catholic School Divisions.
A $25,000 goal was set, and if met, the entire team would shave their heads. Last Friday, and with only one day of fundraising left, the boys were $1,800 shy of their goal, which is when the United Way showed up in the dressing room with a blank cheque. The United Way got the team to its goal and added an additional $5,000 when the coaching staff agreed to get a buzz cut. “This is unbelievable, I’m just so happy right now,” said Bobcats forward Jayven Leslie,
who spearheaded the initiative. “This community just keeps coming through for all of us, and we’re thankful for everyone that’s supported us throughout this, and will continue to support us through it all.” An advocate for mental health, Leslie knows how important it is to have these potentially tough conversations and even joined Kurt Price and Maverick Hann on Nov. 17, 2022, for a Let’s Talk Men’s Mental Health podcast, recorded in front of a live audience at the LloydMall.
Taylor Weaver Meridian Source
Bobcats captain, Ben ByGrove, left, was the first to get buzzed after a 7-4 win over Canmore on Saturday night as the Bobcats held up their end of the deal and shaved their heads after raising $25K for mental health initiatives. Teammate Jayven Leslie, right, who organized the fundraiser, was next to lose the lettuce.
“You see slowly and slowly there’s more awareness being
brought to it, and you really can’t explain how important it is,”
said Leslie. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Photo by Jackie Tomayer