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Newfoundland dad builds backyard hockey rink to raise money for charities

Todd Churchill built a huge ice rink in the backyard of his Portugal Cove-St. Philip's, Newfoundland, home to raise money for the charities that have helped his 2-year-old son, Carter.

Carter was born deaf and has cerebral palsy.

"It's great knowing that I am helping the charities that are helping him," Churchill, a father of two, told CBC News. "It's a great mental break, too, because sometimes when you have stress in your life you need a distraction and that's what this has been for me."

So far, Churchill and his wife, Kimberly, have raised more than $30,000 for Easter Seals NL, Rainbow Riders and Mazol Shriners.

"It's just tremendous," Churchill told the Canadian Press on Saturday before a fundraising tournament began. "I've gotten responses from all over the world and it's really hard to keep on top of emails right now. People are wanting to help or donate. I've had so many companies just come onboard."

"A lot of people at work, they have rinks that are 20x40, and again the Tim Taylor in me just would not allow me to do a rink that size, so I went 95x46 — as you would," Churchill said, referencing the lead character on the 1990s sitcom Home Improvement.

The massive rink boasts boards surrounding the ice — donors have their ads posted on the boards — and lights that allow after-dark hockey. Local companies have also donated new hockey nets.

"So far, I would estimate that I have spent approximately $8,500 of my own money to build the rink and have raised over $26,000 for my charities from corporate sponsorship of the ads and from private donations," Churchill wrote on his website, Reason for the Rink. "None of that money was used to fund the rink construction and 100 per cent of it went to the charities."

Churchill tweeted on Saturday that the grand total for donations is now over $31,500.

The rink has been such a great success this year that Churchill plans to build it again next winter.

"As any parent will tell you who has children with special needs, it's a very helpless feeling," he told CBC News. "You want to do something and this is what my wife and I have decided we are going to do. We've really thrown ourselves into the charities associated with his condition."

Kimberly added, "I'm extremely proud of my husband for all the time and effort that he has put into this. It has been certainly a labour of love, that's for sure."