For the second straight year, a Red Deer business owner is donating $10,000 to Joe Hittel’s Rope for Hope campaign.
Bob Bevins, of Bulldog Metals, gave Hittel a large cheque recently, which will go towards the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
For the fourth year, Hittel will participate in Rope for Hope, where people raise money for the foundation and rappel down the side of a building. It costs about $10,000 to grant each wish.
“Bob’s so happy to do it. He loves what I’m doing for these children,” Hittel said, adding Bevins is the largest donor so far.
“So far my donations have been going pretty good. Some people have been giving me more than they were last year. Some have gone from $100 to $500 or $50 to $100. It’s a good sign. I’ve got lots more to go.”
Through his first three years, Hittel has raised more than $102,000.
In previous years, participants rappelled down the side of the Stantec building in Red Deer – events were held in multiple communities across the country. But this year, there will be no event in Red Deer, so participating central Albertans will rappel down the 23-storey Coast Edmonton Plaza.
This will be the final year for Rope for Hope, said Hittel.
He wanted to raise $86,000 in honour of his 86th birthday this year, but now that he knows this will be the final Rope for Hope, he’s aiming even higher.
“We want to make a big splash. We want to raise as much as we can. The sky’s the limit this year. Forget my 86,000, let’s try to raise more,” he said, adding a different type of fundraiser will take Rope for Hope’s place in the future.
To donate, visit bit.ly/JoeHittel or call Hittel at 403-872-0329.
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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