By Caitlin Brezinski

Charity program touches down in northern Saskatchewan

Nov 2, 2014 | 7:54 AM

On Friday afternoon, former Roughrider Geroy Simon and Cameco delivered coats to children in Buffalo Narrows to kick off Cameco’s partnership with Simon’s charity program, Coats 4 Kids.

The program, an initiative of the Huddle up Foundation, is a program which donates coats to children in Saskatchewan communities.  This is the second year of the program and this is the first time it hs come to northern Saskatchewan.

“In total, more than 500 coats will be going to northern Saskatchewan this winter and today [Friday] was the first day that we were able to get them there,” said Jonathan Huntington, Cameco’s manager of communications and community investment..

Four additional northern Saskatchewan communities will also be receiving those coats; Wollaston Lake, Patuanak, Southend and Pelican Narrows.  

“It’s our understanding that they’ll be other partners coming on board to deliver even more coats down the road into northern Saskatchewan, so this is just the start of it and we’re looking forward to it,” Huntington said.

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As for the delivery in Buffalo Narrows, Huntington said the coats will go a long way.

“I know that the coats that we donated in Buffalo Narrows today are going to be used in their Santa’s Anonymous program this Christmas,” he said.  “It’s such a nice opportunity to be involved with something that’s going to make kids smile at Christmastime.”

Simon also had the chance to speak to about 100 students from Grades 6 to 12 at the school about having a positive attitude and living life every day as a champion.

“It’s always good to get out there and give them a positive message,” he said.

Simon also sat down with some of the football players at the school to talk about some of his experiences and the challenges the players might face.

“[And to] try to get them going on the right track and try to give them some direction on how they can achieve the goals that they want to achieve in life,” he said.

Simon said he is grateful for the sponsorship from Cameco and said it’s just the starting point to the initiative.

He said his program Coats 4 Kids is something he is passionate about.

“I want to leave a lasting legacy of not only being a good player on the field but doing some really cool things off the field and helping make an impact in the community,” he said.  “No matter what the community I’m in, I want to leave a lasting impact.”

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