STURGIS — The Sturgis Mini-Miracle continued its tradition of helping those in need on Feb. 15 when the Sturgis Kin Club hosted its 44th annual Mini-Miracle.
The Mini-Miracle raised over $18,000 this year through a combined effort of support from surrounding communities and the Sturgis and Preeceville schools.
"Throughout the years the Sturgis Kinsmen have reached a milestone of raising over $1 million for Kinsmen Telemiracle which started in 1977," said Daniel Wasylenchuk, chair of Mini-Miracle.
“It is with great pride that we get to announce that with last year’s total we have reached over the million-dollar mark of giving back and raising money for TeleMiracle.”
The first Mini-Miracle was held in 1981, where $8,122 was raised. The telethon was a radiothon fundraiser with a talent program portion. Eventually, the talent contest portion was dropped. In 1994, a joint event by the Kinsmen and Sturgis Composite High School students began with a Miracle Marathon, which was a fundraising run from Canora to Sturgis. In 2023, it became not feasible to continue this venture do to lack of volunteers.
The Preeceville Hospital Bed Push continues to be a valuable fundraiser and the event is now staffed by the Kin Club of Sturgis, the Preeceville School students and other volunteers. Various events from surrounding communities help to make the Sturgis Mini-Miracle the success that it continues to be.
In 2021 and 2022, due to COVID restrictions, an online Facebook Mini-Miracle was held and in 2023 the Kin Club was able to return to the original radio format with in-person talent and audience.
The money was raised through the Kinsmen Mini-Miracle radio-thon and the continued support from the surrounding communities, organizers said. The Preeceville Hospital bed push raised $3,954.10, the Preeceville School raised $1,075 through a coin war and hat days.
The Sturgis Composite School collected pledges and held both a walk-a-thon and a skate-a-thon on Feb. 14, raising $$6,202. Throughout the year, students were allowed to wear hats on Fridays if they pad a dollar and through that efforts they raised $433. The school staff participated in dress-down Fridays. To be able to dress casually on Fridays they had to pay a dollar, which raised $1,065. The total raised from the school was $7,700.
Upon the arrival of the Preeceville Hospital bed push approximately four hours later in Sturgis, the group presented a cheque to the Sturgis annual Mini-Miracle committee during the annual Mini-Miracle program.
Wasylenchuk, as Kin Club president, kicked off the live broadcast program by extending a warm welcome on behalf of the club.
The Sturgis Elementary School choir, under direction of Sherry Lesser, entertained the audience and made a presentation for $7,700.
Other entertainers for the evening were: Thomas Hazlett (2019,GX-94 Star Search winner), Sherry Lesser of Lintlaw, Jesse Genaille of Swan River, Jenn Haasof Yorkton, Jackie Guy of Yorkton, Jennifer and Jessica Madsen of Preeceville, Fr. Andrew Sowa of Sturgis, Stanley Prokulevich of Sturgis and Maycee Johnson, Eva Romanchuk and Lindy Romanchuk of the Barveenok Ukrainian Dance Club performed individual solos.
Helping to sell raffle tickets and in attendance were Chris Fisher, of Yorkton, Deputy Governor of Zone E, District 3 Council of the Kinsmen Foundation; and Shari German, president of the Yorkton Kinette Club.
