Friday night was the "Fundraiser for Sheila." On the same day hundreds gathered to raise money for her and Terry Leahy, Sheila was moved to the Josie Harper Hospice House.
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| Photo by Ed Thompson |
I talked with Terry and he said he couldn't wait to tell Sheila all about the event. Several family members took pictures and videos. And Channel 7 and Channel 6 covered the event.
At one point, Terry took the stage. He said the support from family, friends, the community, and his UNO Hockey family has been "unbelievable." Then he corrected himself. He said it is believable, because he has seen the support. Instead, he said he would call it "amazing."
Terry said this is a "trying time" but for he and Sheila "our finest hour." #FundraiserforSheila pic.twitter.com/j1VyPVkJL4
— Mavpuck (@Mavpuck) May 16, 2015
There were plenty of "Old Bulls" in attendance. (Ryan Walters coined that phrase, referring to former Maverick Hockey players.) I saw Colin Strom, David Brisson, Christian Graham, Kendall Sidoruk, Rob Facca, Alex Nikiforuk, and several others there.
I caught Chancellor John Christensen talking with Terry at one point. The university support for Terry and Sheila has been gratifying. Mike Kemp lined up numerous donations of UNO Hockey memorabilia -- some are pictured below.
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| UNO Chancellor John Christensen talked with Terry. |
Here were some of the items featured in the silent auction:
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| Patrick Kane jersey (top) and Mike Kemp-signed panorama of a game at the Civic Auditorium (Courtesy of Brad Williams Photography) |
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| Dean Blais signed this UNO jersey with the NCHC and Frozen Four patches on it. |
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| I would have bid on this Hoggan jersey, but Terry was the first bid, and I didn't want to bid against him. Others didn't seem to have the same problem! |
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| This is an amazing keepsake for a fan: A goalie stick autographed by the 2014-15 UNO Hockey team. |
I bid on a basket that had two UNO polo shirts, two UNO Hockey tickets, and four UNO Basketball tickets (but I was ultimately outbid for it). Someone donated two club hockey tickets for the first home game at the new arena, and those were raffled off for $10 a chance.
The final numbers aren't in yet, but the fundraiser was a huge success -- not just in the number of people who came, or the money raised, or the media coverage -- but in showing Terry (and Sheila) how much we love them.
Remember, you can still donate to the GoFundMe campaign:
Fundraiser for Sheila GoFundMe
And, you can make a donation at any First National Bank of Omaha branch -- tell them it's for the Fundraiser for Sheila account.
Here are the links to the news coverage of the event:
WOWT Channel 6:
http://www.wowt.com/…/headl…/Community-Comes--303976721.html
KETV Channel 7:
http://www.ketv.com/news/community-raises-money-as-wife-of-voice-of-the-mavericks-battles-cancer/33055488
UNO Gateway Newspaper:
http://unothegateway.com/mavs-to-host-fundraiser-for-uno-hockey-broadcaster-terry-leahs-wife/
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