The Moose Jaw Warriors, with support from residents and local businesses, raised nearly $70,000 to help four-year-old Wells Hodnefield, who has the rare brain disorder MPPH (Megalencephaly, Postaxial Polydactyly, Polymicrogyria, Hydrocephalus) syndrome.
During last Thursday’s HK Henderson | Navacord Warriors Alumni Golf Tournament social, organizers auctioned off rounds of golf with Warriors alumnus Theoren Fleury, raising a total of $68,000. All proceeds will go toward Wells’ ongoing medical treatment.
Tournament chair Todd Hudson said the idea came directly from Fleury, who knows the Hodnefield family and wanted to find a meaningful way to help.
“Theo calls me, and we get discussing, well, maybe we should sell it at the Warrior Golf Tournament at the dinner because you know there’s a lot of business people at it and Moose Jaw is a pretty giving community,” said Hudson.
Theo Fleury and Wells Hodnefield (Photo credit: Theo Fleury – Facebook)
Auction repeated 12 times
Wells’ parents, Chaydin and Lane Hodnefield, attended the social and shared their family’s story with those in attendance.
Hudson said the first golf package sold for $12,500 before organizers decided to auction the experience repeatedly.
“We sold it 12 times for $68,000; it was pretty incredible.”
He said the generosity shown by the community made for an emotional evening.
“If you didn’t have a tear in your eye, you didn’t have a heart. It wrenched on the heartstrings pretty hard, and it was tough. It was amazing to see what this community did.”
Photo credit: Elizabeth Black
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Funds will support ongoing treatment
The money raised will help the Hodnefield family cover the costs of Wells’ specialized treatments.
Wells is believed to be just the 76th documented case of MPPH syndrome worldwide.
MPPH Syndrome is a rare brain disorder that affects the development of the brain, causing an overgrowth of the brain and head.
Wells was born at 41 weeks by traumatic delivery and spent four days after being born in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit where baseline tests took place.