RMH

Photo caption: 
John Campbell

Rooke Meiklejohn and Paul Nicholls, in back, wearing blue, and their wives, Danielle Nicholls, in white, and Sheri Meiklejohn held a three-pitch tournament last Saturday in Campbellford to raise money for Sick Kids and Ronald McDonald House. They asked others who have received care at the hospital to join them for a photo.

Trent Hills Independent - June 26, 2014

Two families were so impressed by the care their children received at The Hospital for Sick Children they organized a threepitch mixed tournament and raised more than $5,200 for the hospital and Ronald McDonald House in Toronto.

Ten teams took part in the fund raiser that Rooke and Sheri Meiklejohn and Paul and Danielle Nicholls organized.

The Meiklejohns' six-month-old daughter, Ainslie, spent more than a month last winter at Sick Kids where she underwent bowel surgery. Her parents stayed at Ronald McDonald House.

Their daughter still goes for checkups but all is well now, Rooke Meiklejohn said.

"It was a fairly minor surgery but when it's on a one-day old child it's kind of stressful."

The Nicholls' nine-year-old daughter, Julia, required surgery two years ago for an eye infection that "got into the bone," Paul Nicholls said, and their son Zachary, 16, has bowel problems that have required medical attention as well.

"Nodules in his lungs" have also appeared, resulting in trips back and forth to Toronto for more examinations.

"We still don't know what's wrong," he said.

Both families speak highly of the care their children have received.

"My wife said to Rooke we should do something for them," Paul Nicholls said, and as both men play in the Friday Night Three-Pitch League, holding a tournament as a fund raiser was an obvious way to express their appreciation. Draws, a silent auction, a barbecue, and Tshirt sales helped boost revenues.

"It's a great turnout, couldn't ask for any better the first year," Paul Nicholls said of the event which the two families intend to stage annually.