1000 plus turn out for Skate for Travis fundraiser

Julie Druker | Dec 16, 2015

Travis Babcock, a 12-year-old grade 7 student at Loughborough Public School in Sydenham and an avid hockey player, tragically died in a car accident on November 1. A special fundraising event for his family, which was sponsored by the Frontenac Minor Hockey Association (FMHA), took place at the Frontenac Community Arena on December 12 and attracted over 1000 people. By the end of the day just over $10,000 had been raised for the family.

The event was held to support Travis' parents, Jamie and Leanne, and sister Kaitlyn, and it included a barbeque, a silent auction, a 50/50 draw and an evening skate-a-thon event at the arena.

Al Pixley, president of the FMHA, organized the event. He said that Travis had so many friends in the association that the executive, members and players wanted to do what they could to support the family. “We just really wanted to reach out to the family and to all of our members as well, who have been affected by this tragic loss,” he said.

Pixley has a son the same age as Travis, who is also an avid hockey player, and a Boston and Bobby Orr fan. He said the loss has really hit home for him. Rob Edmunds, a registrar, executive member and a manager with the FMHA's novice rep team, was also helping out at the fundraiser and said that he was overwhelmed by the turnout. “We are just blown away by the support that this community has shown to the family.”

Travis' family were also in attendance on Saturday. Edmunds said that it was a very emotional day for them and that they were equally overwhelmed by the support that the community has shown them. Nicholas Baker, a good friend of Travis, who plays with the Frontenac Flyers and is a fellow student at LPS, was helping out at the event serving up hamburgers. He said that he also just wanted to support the family in any way that he could. Following the special day, Edmunds said that the donations are still coming in, and anyone who would like to donate can still do so by contacting Rob Edmunds at 613-375-6596 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.