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Toilet on a lawn means funds and awareness for ALS (4 photos)

'You've Been Flushed' fundraiser brings in more than $5,200

It was a creative way to raise money, but an effective one for the Pee Wee Major AA Jr. Greyhounds and the ALS Society of Canada.

Organizers would deliver a toilet, painted in Greyhound colours with a pair of legs and skates sticking out of it, to the lawn of an unsuspecting homeowner or the reception area or showroom of a local business. For the price of a donation, it could be removed or placed on a friend’s yard or at someone’s workplace. Insurance was also available to ensure the toilet wouldn't return to you. 

Jennifer Tranberg, whose son is a Jr. Greyhound, came up with the idea after her mother Deloris was diagnosed with ALS in August of 2016.

She came across 'You've Been Flushed' online when looking for fundraising ideas “We just decided to make it hockey related with the hockey player coming out of it,” she said.

“Having new ideas, new strategies, new creative ways of raising money that is fun and positive - you can’t beat that," said Brigitte Labby, ALS Canada Regional manager for northeastern Ontario. “With Sault Ste Marie being such a hockey town, why not?”

Tranberg said response from the fundraiser was great, addng that it had even spent a few days in Dubreuilville. “I would’ve like to have stuck around to see the responses, but sometimes when we did it, it was just a drop and go in the middle of the night,” she said. 

Tranberg's mother passed away to ALS in July but did see the beginning of the fundraising campaign. "She saw the sign and she gave me the thumbs up. She would have been very proud,” said Tranberg. “The awareness it has brought has been fantastic. To me that’s worth everything."

“The family has been effected by ALS on the downside, but on the upside they came up with this great idea,” said Labby. “There are 850 people living with ALS in Ontario; people need to remember that when someone passes away, another person is being diagnosed."

The funds raised were split between the Jr. Greyhounds and ALS Canada. 


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