At this year鈥檚 Telemiracle event in Saskatoon, Estevan鈥檚 Kinsmen and Kinettes bid adieu to beloved event favourite and honourary Kinette Bob McGrath.
On their way to raising more than $4.3 million over the weekend telethon, special attention was given to McGrath, famous for his long-running role on Sesame Street, who appeared at Telemiracle for the final time. He has been a fixture at the event and host for more than 30 years. The City of Saskatoon declared March 8 Bob McGrath Day in the city.
Estevan鈥檚 contingent of about 13 Kinsmen and Kinette members included Susan Colbow, vice president of the local Kinettes and the manpower chair for Telemiracle 39.
鈥淚t was awesome. It was emotional because it was Bob鈥檚 last year,鈥� said Colbow on Monday from Saskatoon. 鈥淭hat was kind of sad, but other than that, it was good.鈥�
She said the Saskatchewan Kin district will dearly miss McGrath who endeared himself to members who took part in Telemiracle every year.
鈥淗e is the centre of the show almost. He has been there so long that the show is not the same if he鈥檚 not there. He is always excited to be there. He鈥檚 always friendly, and he鈥檚 so grateful for everything we do,鈥� said Colbow.
The local Kin clubs have been fundraising for Telemiracle since last summer through various events around Estevan like Teeing Off for Miracles golf tournament, steak nights, a toonies for Telemiracle matinee show at the Orpheum Theatre and sold hats at an Estevan Bruins hockey game.
Colbow said the donation haul they received at the hockey game even topped what the Prince Albert club was able to pull in from their efforts at a Prince Albert Raiders Western Hockey League game.
鈥淓stevan was very generous at the Bruins hockey game,鈥� said Colbow, noting the Kinettes raised more than $2,300 heading up to the Telemiracle event.
For Colbow, returning to Telemiracle is a great chance to meet up with other Kin members from around the province and put on a show.
鈥淚t鈥檚 lots of fun. There鈥檚 lots of kinship. There are lots of people that you meet only once a year at Telemiracle,鈥� she said.
Brad Johner and his boys performed once again at the event. Brad has been performing for about 15 years and is an honourary Estevan Kinette. This year, his brother Ken performed as well, and they are preparing for a reunion tour playing the hits they made popular in the 1990s.聽
