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By Emma Miskew

A tough loss in sport can make you feel like your world has come to an end. It consumes your mind to the point where you replay critical moments over and over in your head wishing you could go back in time to change that one detail which would possibly change the game outcome. In these moments, it’s really hard to put things into perspective.

After getting home from our tough loss at provincials, it was all I could think about for a few days, until I received an e-mail that made me see the bigger picture.

The e-mail was asking me whether I would be willing to fly out to the Scotties for the opening weekend of the event to help with the Sandra Schmirler Foundation fundraiser. My first thought was that it would be really hard to go to an event I desperately wanted to be playing in, and not play … but as I took time to think about it, I couldn’t imagine passing up such a great opportunity to help out with such an important cause.

I remember as a young child watching Sandra Schmirler and her team compete. They were an amazing team with a leader that inspired me. Sandra and her team were responsible for my drive to one day compete at a Scotties myself, and even at my young age I knew how much of a loss to curling it was when she passed away, leaving behind her husband and two young girls.

Upon her passing, a charity was created in her memory to help premature and critically ill newborn babies in need of medical attention. The foundation supports hospitals all over Canada while also keeping Sandra’s memory alive at the Scotties. Every year during the telethon, every single dollar donated goes towards the neonatal equipment needed, making the telethon all the more impressive.

Losing a big game is nothing in comparison to what families go through daily to provide care and life for neonatal infants.

In the end, it’s been a very easy decision for me to go with Lisa to Grande Prairie and help support a cause that is important to us, our loved ones and our curling community. It was an honour to be asked. I want to thank everyone who works hard to make this telethon such an amazing success. When your name is associated with saving lives, your legacy couldn’t be stronger. Thank you Sandra.