MS fundraiser surpasses $10K, Edmontonian pledges another night in igloo for $15K
An Edmonton man sleeping in an igloo he built to raise money for multiple sclerosis (MS) research has surpassed his $10,000 goal.
Tyler Gamblin had originally planned to brave three nights inside his homemade igloo. Now, he’s added a fourth if he can reach a new target of $15,000.
CTV Morning Live caught up with Gamblin after his second night in a sleeping bag. He said the community's generosity and the warmer weather made it an easier decision to extend the fundraising goal.
“First night was a little bit warmer, around zero. It was kind of dripping on my head. But last night was -10 and I think it’s a little bit more comfortable when the water’s not a potential,” he said.
Gamblin, along with his wife and brother, built the colourful igloo in their front yard using Tupperware containers. It took around a month to build.
“Initially I built it as fun for the front yard and for the neighbours, but all the neighbours were coming and saying it was a labour of love and I thought, 'Hey, let’s do this for a cause.'
"And we kind of shifted it to a labour for love," explained Gamblin.
“People like something fresh when they’re paying money for good causes and I figured this would catch the eye of some people and hopefully they can donate to a good cause.”
MS is a disease of the brain and spinal cord, where the immune system attacks the protective layer that covers nerve fibers. The disease runs in Gamblin’s family. He also participates in the MS society’s annual bike ride.
“Every year we seem to have a new reason to ride,” said Gamblin. “Actually a few people reached out to me just after I posted this and have said they were recently diagnosed, so every year there’s somebody to ride for and that list just keeps growing.”
This is the second year Gamblin has built an igloo. Last year’s was built in the backyard and lasted well into the spring due to the shade it got.
He isn’t expecting this year’s to last quite as long.
“I think it can hold up no problem for a week in this temperature, but it’s just not going to be as pretty,” said Gamblin.
In fact, the warm weather already forced Gamblin to move up his igloo sleepover by four days from the original Jan. 27 start. Athough the weather can be unpredictable, Gamblin is committed to completing his goal.
“Everyone has come together and really donated because I was supposed to make $10,000 and I did it," he told CTV News Edmonton.
"Hey, let’s do $15,000 for another night.”
With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Amanda Anderson and Nahreman Issa
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
Verdun Airbnb listing taken down amid complaints, fines and frustration from neighbours
An Airbnb in Montreal's Verdun borough was the source of much frustration from neighbours who say there were constant parties at the location. It has been taken down from the app, but housing advocates remain upset about short-term rentals.
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Fire in Labrador town under control, officials tells residents to stay away
RCMP say the fire that prompted a state of emergency in a Labrador town is now under control.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Iraq investigates a blast at a base of Iran-allied militias that killed 1. U.S. denies involvement
Iraqi authorities said Saturday that they were investigating an explosion that struck a base belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-allied militias, killing one person and injuring eight.