John O’Hurley with 2019 Boat Rally participants. Photo courtesy of Boat Rally for Cancer
The Boat Rally for Cancer returns to the waters of Lake Joseph and Lake Rosseau this weekend in support of the Odette Cancer Center in Sunnybrook and the Ronald McDonald House, and actor John O’Hurley is one of a dozen celebrities to come out to support the cause.
The boat rally was created in 2013 following the success of its sister event, the Car Rally for Kids. Combined, the two events have raised over $25 million for various charities over the years. This year’s boat rally on August 19-20 is an outdoor event where fundraising teams compete in an Amazing Race style competition followed by a gala dinner on Saturday night. The first five teams to raise more than $20,000 will get a celebrity navigator for the ride. One such celebrity is actor John O’Hurley, best known for his role as J. Peterman His field.
“It’s nice to be able to return to such a wonderful organization and event,” said O’Hurley. “We’ll be upstairs [the lakes of] Muskoka is trying to raise money for the hospital there in Sunnybrook with our boat rally and also for the Ronald McDonald House here in Toronto so it’s going to be a lot of fun but most importantly we have a good core goal by the end of the weekend.”
O’Hurley had been competing in the car rally for a number of years when he decided to enter the boat rally in 2017. Both events feature an obstacle course-style challenge that requires participants to complete specific tasks while solving clues in their race to the finish line.
The 2017 Boat Rally Gala. Photo courtesy of Boat Rally for Cancer
In 2020 the boat rally was replaced by an online auction, while in 2021 all participants were on boats with their respective bubbles for a boat parade and a concert on the water. The modified approach meant there were no celebrity meetings, and while he was sad to be away from the rally during COVID, it feels wonderful to be back now, O’Hurley said.
A dozen celebrities, including NHL player Sam Gagner and actor Billy Baldwin, have flown in for the event. Since many have attended the rally before, it’s like seeing family, O’Hurley said, adding that it’s a way to express the community they feel with one another while doing something good. The event is always great fun, but most of all it’s about helping people, especially children, deal with cancer and other chronic diseases.
“I’m fortunate to be the father of a healthy 15-year-old who was just a joy to raise,” said O’Hurley. “[Participating in the rally is] my gratitude for the fact that God has blessed me with a wonderful child and I don’t have to go through the incredible emotional and financial difficulties of having a child with some of the ailments that Sunnybrook can pinpoint, both with her cancer treatment and hers Research.”
Odette Cancer Center in Sunnybrook serves a wide range of cancer patients while working on cancer prevention, detection and education. The center oversees clinical trials and research to improve patient outcomes and is one of the largest cancer programs in North America.
The other charity benefiting from the boat rally is Ronald McDonald House, which provides shelter and other resources for sick children and their families. Their facilities allow families to stay together close to the hospital where their child is being treated, reducing the cost and complexity of an already difficult process.
The 2019 Boat Rally. Photo courtesy of Boat Rally for Cancer
Heading to this weekend’s rally, O’Hurley is excited to see how much is being raised for the two charities, and he encourages permanent and seasonal residents alike to support their fellow Ontario residents during the event. Being a part of the boat rally is a summertime tradition O’Hurley plans to uphold for years to come, and it doesn’t hurt that the events bring him back to beautiful Muskoka.
“I see no end in sight,” he said. “I enjoy it and it brings me to Muskoka, which I think is one of the truly great lake views in North America. It’s just so much fun up there and I can see why people choose it as their summer home.”
For more information about the Boat Rally for Cancer or to make a donation, please visit the event website. For regular updates throughout the weekend follow the event on Facebook.
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