Staff at Iron Horse Energy Services present a $5,000 donation to Kidsport Medicine Hat and Redcliff Tuesday afternoon - Photo by Charles Lefebvre

By Charles Lefebvre

Iron Horse employees donate $5,000 to Kidsport

Dec 17, 2019 | 3:34 PM

REDCLIFF, AB — Staff at a local oil and gas company are in the giving spirit, helping athletes achieve their dreams.

Iron Horse Energy Services announced Tuesday their employees have donated $5,000 to Kidsport in Medicine Hat.

The money comes from the Helping Hands Fund at the company, where employees can give a portion of their paycheque towards. At the end of the year, the company donates the money raised to charitable organizations.

“It’s a few dollars, but a few dollars goes a long way, especially when you have a lot of people donating to it,” said Mark Fryklund, an employee at Iron Horse. “I was very happy. As soon as the word help was there, I was all over it. It’s a great thing where we can help out whoever needs help.”

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“We’re so lucky to be one of the causes chosen, and this is going to make a difference in the lives of kids in Medicine Hat and Redcliff,” said Connelly Sherwick, board chair of the local Kidsport Chapter.

Kidsport provides assistance to help families struggling with their finances sign their children up for sports. The organization can help cover registration and equipment costs for sports.

Sherwick says Kidsport has covered fees for 26 different sports in 2018.

“They’re getting to learn the values of teamwork, they’re getting all sorts of self-esteem, they’re getting physical activity for that matter, and they’re also learning the discipline of things, how to learn to lose, how to be a good teammate,” he said. “These are skills they are going to take in their adult lives, and it’s going to make them successful.”

For Fryklund, he says it’s important for the company to help people in need.

“It’s nice to know that this company, Iron Horse, is looking to help out,” he said. “They’re always looking to go above and beyond to help anywhere that needs help, so for us, it’s a pretty big role, we like it, and it’s amazing.”

He adds, “I have three kids, and there are families that always need help, so just knowing that in the back of your mind too, it’s just great knowing that everybody who wants to play or needs to play can play. It’s just simple stuff to be able to help when you can.”

Sherwick says the donation can help between 17 and 20 kids access sports next year. This year, the organization has assisted 275 children in Medicine Hat and Redcliff.