Remembering Priscila Uppal

Remembering the FABULOUS Priscila Uppal

September 5th, 2021 marks the third year since the passing of Priscila Uppal one of our most beloved members of the CAN Fund family. An incredibly gifted writer and passionate supporter of our athletes, she embodied a true Canadian sports lover! We miss Priscila dearly, her infectious energy, magnificent smile and zest for life that radiated every time she was with us. Priscila was a devoted member of the CAN Fund Board and CAN Fund Athlete Selection Committee giving countless hours of her time to support Canadian athletes. One of her greatest contributions was her poetic brilliance. A professor at York University, writer, novelist, playwright and poet, her list of works and accomplishments is extensive. She was our CAN Fund poet-in-residence during the Vancouver and London Games writing a poem each day to celebrate the performances and sports of our Olympic and Paralympic athletes. London “Time Out” magazine dubbed her “Canada’s coolest poet” an accolade she undoubtedly lived up to! Her entire collection as CAN Fund poet-inresidence can be found in her published books

“Winter Sport: Poems” and “Summer Sport:

Poems.” On September 5th as the Tokyo Games come to a close we fondly remember Priscila and her genuine spirit. Forever grateful for her impact, we share one of our favourite poems Priscila wrote during the 2012 Para Games.

Bumper Cars: A Wheelchair Rugby Poem

Strapped into your metal armour, you barely contain yourself eager for the surge of electricity bass belting to rev engines.

Technically, one could opt for a safer ride- stick to the edges and manoeuver contentedly about like driving school instructors in empty parking lots.

But where’s the fun in that? The whole point is acceleration and contact: a crash course in chasing down opponents and companions alike, jamming down on brakes, then scraping by the worst of the traffic jam, initiating rush hour.

Your license revoked many times: too many points violations, you’ve got their number as well as your own.

And you don’t mind at all if witnesses clock radar speeds and submit their statements to stunned authorities.

MEET OUR

CAN FUND SIDE GIG Athletes

During the pandemic we had the amazing opportunity to welcome these athletes to the CAN Fund team, working part-time while also balancing their training commitments. We are grateful for their incredible work ethic and dedication to helping share the impact of CAN Fund with Canadians.

Susanne Grainger

Rowing - Women’s 8, 2-time Olympian & 2020 Olympic Gold Medalist, Multiple CAN Fund #150 Women recipient, CAN Fund #150Women Partnerships & Marketing Guru

Christine Roper

Rowing - Women’s 8, 2-time Olympian & 2020 Olympic Gold Medalist, Multiple CAN Fund #150Women recipient, CAN Fund Communications Rockstar

Ashley Pryke

Athletics, CAN Fund Solutionist

Dylan Bennett

Taekwondo, CAN Fund Research Ninja

Becca Frangos

Sport Climbing, CAN Fund Social Mediaholic

Claudia Holzner

Artistic Swimming, 2020 Olympian, Multiple CAN Fund #150Women recipient, CAN Fund #150Women Marketing & Social Goddess

Kierra Smith

Swimming, 2-time Olympian, Multiple CAN Fund #150Women recipient, CAN Fund Engagement Pro

Janet Leung

Softball, 2020 Olympic Bronze Medalist, Multiple CAN Fund #150Women recipient, CAN Fund Athlete in Residency

CAN Fund Athlete Recipient Calls:

Giving donors the opportunity to call an athlete & surprise them with the news they are a 2021 CAN Fund recipient.

CAN Fund “Home” Blanket - 50”x70”, 100% Cotton Shop on our online boutique! Price: $110

BE

W om e n S upp or ting Women • Women Supporting Women • W om e n S upp or ting Women • Women Supporting Women •

Women coast to coast are donating $150 or more to support female athletes.

Adopt An Athlete Program

Exclusive to CAN Fund, be part of an athlete’s journey. Price: $10,000 (receive tax receipt)

Can I designate my United Way

contribution to CAN Fund? Yes, you can

designate your donation to “See You In Canadian Athletes Now Fund” (CAN Fund) by indicating your choice on your pledge card.

I live in British Columbia, can my donation be allocated to an athlete

from here? Yes, donors often will share special preferences with us, and we use our best efforts to make your request happen.

Does CAN Fund receive Government

Funding? No, CAN Fund does not receive funding from the Government. Our funding comes from corporate Canada, individual Canadians, Foundations, United Way, monthly donors, Donation of Securities and through our programs including: Adopt An Athlete, #150Women, Pre-Game Meal and Maple Leaf “Home” Paintings.

How can I do my own fundraiser for

CAN Fund? You can use our CAN Fund fundraising page to customize your event from what you are doing to the amount you would like to raise.

How much does each CAN Fund

recipient receive? $6000 per application. Many athletes are multiple CAN Fund recipients in their careers. Athletes use this direct funding to afford what they need to represent Canada on the world stage. CAN Fund support means athletes can afford equipment, coaching, nutrition, physiotherapy, travel to training camps and competitions and pay team fees.

How can I promote CAN Fund? Use CAN

Fund Facebook frames and let your friends know you are supporting athletes. Refer friends to donate to CAN Fund or the women in your life to become CAN Fund #150Women.

Share the love, tell your contacts with each donation they find out the name of the athlete they are supporting and receive a tax receipt Volunteer – coast to coast we appreciate your time.

Besides donating, what other ways can

I support athletes? Donate food cards, we love giving these out to our athletes during Thanksgiving and the holiday season. Give gas cards to help an athlete get to and from their training. Purchase an airline ticket for an athlete so they can get to their next competition or training camp. You can also consider donating auction items for our CAN Fund Online Holiday Auction.

“My dream to reach the Paralympics started at the London 2012 Swimming Trials. A few of my local club teammates qualified for both the Olympics and Paralympics that year, and seeing them compete at the world’s biggest sporting event helped me set my goal to reach the Games one day. I always felt uncomfortable in the pool as a kid, but my desire to compete was always stronger than my fear. Over the years, that uncomfortable environment slowly turned into a place where anything was possible.”

Nicolas Guy Turbide, Para Swimming, 2020 Paralympic Silver Medalist, 2016 Paralympic Bronze Medalist, Multiple CAN Fund Recipient CONGRATULATIoNS

Save the Date

W om e n S upp or ting Women • Women Supporting Women • W om e n S upp or ting Women • Women Supporting Women • BE OUR VIRTUAL 4TH BIRTHDAY BASH

Tuesday, November 30th - coast to coast

Email us at 150Women.CANFund@gmail.com to hear how you can create an event in your community with the women in your life.