The Sandra Schmirler Foundation's annual telethon will air live on TSN this Sunday, January 25, to raise funds for neonatal intensive care equipment across Canada. Curler Robyn Silvernagle, a Saskatchewan native, will participate by answering phones in Mississauga, drawing from her personal experience with NICU care for her premature son. Since 2001, the foundation has raised over $8 million to support more than 100 hospitals nationwide.
The telethon, which supports babies born too soon, too small, or too sick, highlights the foundation's ongoing mission established in honor of curling legend Sandra Schmirler, who passed away in 2000 after leading Canada to Olympic gold in 1998.
Robyn Silvernagle, born in Biggar, Saskatchewan, and now residing in Bushell Park near Moose Jaw, brings a personal connection to the event. She is currently playing third for Jolene Campbell’s Team Saskatchewan at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Silvernagle's involvement stems from her family's firsthand experience: her son Kolt was born nearly six weeks early and spent almost a year in the hospital receiving NICU care.
In a recent interview from Mississauga, Silvernagle described the telethon as “just an amazing cause.” She elaborated, “Our son was in NICU and been in the hospital for a long time, almost a year. So we know firsthand how important the Sandra Schmirler Foundation is and how much it helped him with lifesaving equipment when he was super vulnerable and needed that extra support.”
Silvernagle also urged Canadians to contribute, saying, “I just hope everybody will donate what they can to help keep this foundation going and helping babies all over Canada.” Her admiration for Schmirler runs deep; she noted a family tie, as her mother and Schmirler were high school friends who curled together, making Schmirler a lifelong role model.
The foundation's work has provided essential equipment to neonatal intensive care units in every province and territory, enabling medical teams to respond effectively to fragile newborns.
