Event to help girl’s dream come true

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This article was published 07/08/2021 (1871 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Quentin Derhak has just 60 days to raise $10,000 to help a little girl achieve her dream.

Titled Super Strength for Super Kids, the new fundraising event is taking place in Brandon on Oct. 3 at Anytime Fitness on Victoria Avenue.

It’s in support of The Dream Factory, a Manitoba-based charity that brings dreams to life for children in the community fighting life-threatening illnesses.

Formally known as the Rainbow Society and with roots stretching back to 1983, The Dream Factory grants dreams for children across Manitoba including backyard makeovers, celebrity meet and greets, and travel around the world, when it’s safe to do so. Many of the children they support are from Brandon and the Westman area.

This is the second time Derhak’s stepped up to help raise funds for a child experiencing a life-threatening illness.

Last year, Derhak was involved in the Deadlifts for Dreams fundraiser which was held virtually due to the pandemic. Derhak said it was a great event but it limited the number of people who could participate.

This year, he’s helping The Dream Factory in the strongman event to raise funds for a Brandon child with a life-threatening illness.

Wynter is a Grade 4 student in Brandon. She has many loves, including video games, crafting, fashion, painting, making slime, animals, music, school, playing with her baby sister, being outdoors, swimming, baking, anime and her family and friends. She has already received a liver transplant but has a form of cancer called Post Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disease.

She was at Sick Kids hospitalin Toronto for three months of chemotherapy and lived away from home for 11 more months. Her dream is to swim in the ocean, visit Niagara Falls and see the animals at the Toronto zoo.

For Derhak, the decision to run a strongman event was because he wanted it more inclusive.

“This way more people can get involved. With the strongman event, anyone can try it,” he said.

“It’s open to whoever wants to come in. Even if you aren’t a strong man, say your strength is running, get on a treadmill. Get people to sponsor you and run. Bike, bench press, whatever your superpower is.”

“Because this is a superhero-themed event, we’re going to have actors there dressed up as superheroes. We’ll have events for children to do. It is whatever someone’s strength is.”

Anyone who goes to a gym and works out can join. “The way it works is you raise $250 to participate in the event. It’s not a competition. We’re not here for bragging rights. Someone isn’t going to come out on top.”

Derhak is confident the goal will be met with participants and corporate sponsors.

“COVID wasn’t an issue when I did the first one,” he said. “It is now. These kids are going to be robbed of their youth. If you’re six or seven, you’ve lived 25 per cent of your life in lockdown. Plus being in a hospital being sick. Plus having surgeries. They need a break. They need something. Especially a kid who’s gone through this kind of hell.”

To donate or sign up for the strong man event go to superkidsmb.ca or contact Derhak at 204-730-0039 for more information on how to participate or donate.

» kkielley@brandonsun.com