Smile Like Emily

By Leanne Lougheed

Making our Community #CardiacSafe!

My Updates

Update October 2022

I can’t believe it has already been 2 months since our amazing AED fundraiser. It was a beautiful summer night, the weather cooperated and the community rallied just as this community always does. We are happy to announce that we made over $13,000 that evening to go towards our overall goal and purchase 3 save stations. 

We have already well exceeded our initial goal, as we have raised over $30,000 since February! The support from the community has been overwhelming and amazing. The additional funds raised were put  towards a 4th station(site to be determined.)  We were able to purchase this 4th AED station and thought it was best to do so right away, as there are very few in stock.


Last week, we got the most amazing packages in the mail as all the units arrived.  We are just working through some logistics before we can move forward to the installation phase. I would love to see these ready for our community to access before the snow flies.


We are so thankful for everyone that made this fundraiser extremely successful and we could not have done this without you all. I’m proud to be a part of this community and so very humble and grateful for how this community, once again, came together. 


Mike, Leanne, Madison & Keaton

Fundraising Update!

I’m speechless! The “100 women of Paintearth” picked our Smile Like Emily fundraiser to give their first donation to.
From the bottom of our hearts Thank you all.

HELP MAKE OUR COMMUNITY #CARDIACSAFE!


It can happen anywhere, and to anyone. That was the heartbreaking lesson Mike and I (Leanne), and our family, learned on a beach in rural Manitoba nearly two years ago. One moment our fun-loving, carefree and happy seven year old, Emily, was swimming and playing in the sand with her cousins and siblings, and the next, we were holding her, scrambling for supplies, questioning, grieving, searching for an explanation – or at least, a sign that this tragedy could have somehow been prevented. 


There was no explanation, and there were no signs. 


Emily’s condition was rare. Her heart was just built… differently. We tried using a defibrillator, but because there was no pulse to reignite, it would never have worked. But we find some solace, however small, in the fact we did everything we could to save her life. 


We’ve spearheaded this fundraiser to install easily accessible AEDs in three different areas of our community: the Elks building on the Castor Golf Course, the Castor Town Office, and a free-standing unit near the soccer field at Gus Wetter School. If we can help prevent even one family from going through the pain we have, and always will, go through, then it’s worth it. 


Every year in Canada, 35,000 cardiac arrests occur – most happen outside of a hospital, and less than 10% survive. It can happen to anyone, of any age, of any fitness ability, at any time. Living in a rural area, we’re confronted with longer wait times for emergency services and fewer doctors. We have an active population of golfers, ball players, youth in sports, swimmers – and it is sometimes impossible to know if a pre-existing heart condition exists. 


We hope our story, and our efforts to ensure it’s not the story of others, resonates with you. Thank you for helping make our community, and hopefully others, cardiac safe. 


Smile like Emily!


Leanne, Mike, Madison, Keaton & Trigger



*Please note: This is not a charity, so we are unable to provide you with donation receipts.


Thank you to my Sponsors

$50

Kyle & Celeste + Family

$825

Shawn Roth

$100

Jenna Wiart

$1,000

Castor Legion

$50

Ben And Lisa Christians

$50

Lisa And Sean Baldwin

$100

Anonymous

$25

Joan Gammie

What a wonderful idea to remember Emili by!

$100

Krystal

In honour of sweet Emily, may her spirit live on in the lives she as able to save. Sending love to you my beautiful friend. 💜

$6.2k

100 Women Of Paintearth

$25

Janie And Merle Hildreth

$100

Teri And Kelly Hildreth

$250

Jessica Jaznen

Keep saying her name and taking up space to change the world!

$25

Brian And Gail Dunlop

$50

Michelle Greer

$100

Martina & Craig

$100

Larry & Sandy Brodersen

$13k

Smile Like Emily Fundraiser Event Aug 2022

$50

Becky & Cody Oleksiuk

$100

Lucas,sharlaine,zander, Zoe &isaac Howe

💜

$100

Gurb Hari

$50

Anonymous

$25

Cala Campbell

$100

Tanya Glencross

Thank you for having us at this event!

$1,000

Cheryl Rayfield

💜💜💜

$100

Auntie Julie And Uncle Bob

$50

Brett & Jolene Ouellette

$100

Trent & Lisa Roth

$100

Blair, Amanda & Turner Howe

$100

Tina Hronek

💜💜💜

$50

Tanya And Daniel

$100

Michelle & Rich

$50

Kelly, Jason, Sierra & Brynn Freadrich

$2k

Anonymous

Donated by ATCO Employees from the ATCO Company Hockey Tournament

$50

Linda Windross

$100

Jim, Robin & Jack

$50

Curtis & Kayla Jackson

$50

Kyle & Jen

Great idea Leanne.

$100

Delrae

Thinking of your family and sending love from the mountains.

$100

Janel Fuller

$40

Lynette Waltham

$50

Jen & Mike Creasey

💕💕💕💕

$500

Richard Elhard

$25

Alisha Quance

$50

Tanis Smith

$50

Guy & Kathy Huberdeau

$50

Randi And Ian Campbell

$50

Keith & Carla Mcpherson

$50

Patti Lougheed

❤️

$50

Kristy

$100

Auntie Erin

❤️

$50

Chelsey And Cody Rowledge

$100

D & J Howe

$50

Ang & Shane

$100

Ellyn & Brent

#SmileLikeEmily

$100

Ians & Dana

$250

Stacey And Marcy & Family

❤️❤️

$100

Allan & Barb Gano

Smile Like Emily :) What a great legacy.

$50

Marion Grant

$50

Belinda Dietz

$100

Chad, Nikki And Mia Gilchrist

Mia points out her picture everyday ❤️❤️

$100

Jamie And Andrea Marquart

$500

Philip & Shelly

$500

Beth Elhard

$50

Marie Armstrong

I look at Emily's rock everytime I'm in my salon and I think of you all often. This will be an amazing thing for your community ❤️

$100

Debbie Mario

I hope you are able to reach your goal. Its for a good cause.

$100

Rod & Shirley

$50

Manon Lepage

$100

Jenn And Tyson Tkach

$50

Corinne & Rick Lougheed

$100

Sandy Jackson

$50

Amber & Steven Hill

$100

James And Marline Howe

$25

Hilario, April And Family

$250

Craig And Jody Spady

$250

Tom And Wendy Coppock

$100

Ross And Karen Duncan

$100

Darcy & Stacey Erion

💕💕

$900

Terry & Donna Howe

Wonderful tribute

$200

Genelle, Ryleigh, Thayer, Harlyn

$25

Mallory, Tristan, Everett, And Silviya