This year’s Calgary Stampede collected $2.1 million for Alberta flood relief.
Stampede chief executive officer Vern Kimball announced the total earlier today.
“This was an unprecedented fundraising campaign for the Calgary Stampede,” he said. “We anticipated the campaign would be successful. However, we never anticipated presenting a cheque of this amount to the Canadian Red Cross. It is truly overwhelming.”
Attendance of 1.1 million was recorded at this year’s event, held two weeks after floods ravaged the Stampede grounds and affected thousands of Albertans who had homes and businesses lost or damaged.
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A portion of the $2.1 million total came from the sale of T-shirts bearing the quickly adopted phrase, Come Hell or High Water, which was the credo of post-flood Stampede preparations.
“The overwhelming support for the Calgary Stampede’s Hell or High Water campaign shows the spirit and tenacity of Albertans,” said Sue Phillips, Canadian Red Cross director general for Western Canada.
“For those affected by the floods, the road to recovery will be long. This generous donation received today from the Calgary Stampede will help Red Cross assist individuals, families and communities as they rebuild their lives from Alberta’s worst flooding disaster.”
