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Charitable backyard hockey rink nets $100K goal with off-season donation

Todd Churchill's Portugal Cove-St. Philip's backyard looks like your average grassy patch this time of year but come winter, it's turned into an ice hockey rink that raises money for charities that support persons with disabilities.

It's Reason for the Rink's off-season now, but that didn't stop Telus from making a power play move and pushing the project to its 2015-2016 fundraising goal.

"The original donation was going to be $5,000 and I was tremendously excited about that because the rink is in summer break now so I don't normally get donations this time of year," Churchill told The St. John's Morning Show.

There was more good news when the telecommunications company selected Churchill as a winner in its national marketing campaign, The Giving Effect.

"When the cheque presentation time came on Saturday Telus surprised me yet again by increasing the donation to $11,244."

The extra amount means Reason for the Rink rounded out $100,000 in its third year of operation and has earned $225,000 to date.

"I'm very happy to say that every dollar of that $225,000 has gone to charities," Churchill said.

"I use my own money to upkeep the rink and pay for any costs like that so any donations from Telus or any other donor go straight to the charities and they get 100 per cent of the benefit from it."

Why it started

Reason for the Rink came about after the Churchills learned their second and youngest child, Carter, was deaf and had cerebral palsy.

"As a parent, when your child receives a diagnosis like that your first instinct is to do whatever you can to try and make your child better or correct whatever the issue is," Churchill said.

"Unfortunately for Carter, it's not really possible. Hopefully there will be advances in medical sciences that will help him in future but currently there isn't so [my wife and I] decided the next best thing would be to help charities that help children like Carter so we've really, since he was born, thrown all our passions and energies behind doing that."

Last year, Reason for the Rink donated to Easter Seals NL, Rainbow Riders, Mazol Shriners and the Cerebral Palsy Association of Newfoundland and Labrador.

"For my wife and I the work we do with the charities is very much a therapeutic exercise," Churchill said.

The Giving Effect

Telus launched The Giving Effect last spring. Laura Hearn, a senior manager of community investment with the company says Telus was inspired by the number of volunteer hours its employees contribute across Canada every year.

Reason for the Rink was chosen as one of two The Giving Effect winners across the country.

"I think [the reason the Churchills won] was the connection to their son Carter and his story," Hearn said.

"I think it was this idea that Todd is one person who is doing something in their community but it's part of, and it's creating, a much larger ripple effect of good."

Off-season plans

Churchill's referee and resurfacing duties are dormant this time of year, but his desire to give back isn't.

He's splitting the Telus money between Rainbow Riders and Easter Seals.

Rainbow Riders, a therapeutic horse riding centre in St. John's, is currently raising funds for a new facility on Mount Scio Road.

Easter Seals is putting off its annual Drop Zone fundraiser in August. Churchill will be rappelling down Atlantic Place as part of that.

"I actually go in costume every year. My alter ego is Mr. Incredible," he said.

"I actually bleach whatever hair I have remaining to get completely into character."

To donate to that effort, click here. For Churchill's wintertime Reason for the Rink work, click here.