Remembering Kyle Ruppe with memorial tournament

Andrea Roberts
Times Intern

 

Kyle Ruppe’s life was cut short late last year after losing a four-year-long battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) but his love of sports and his life-of-the-party persona will continue on with “The Ruppe show” which will be the first Annual Memorial Cabaret/ Auction and three-on-three hockey tournament. The two-piece event will give back to Strathmore, as the funds that are raised will be donated to KidSport and ALS.
“He just wanted to give back to sports,” said his sister Kim Ruppe.
“To make sure that kids had a chance to get into sports and so that is where the money will be going because Kyle just found that he was the person who he was due to sports and the morals and values and about team work and forging all those relationships with like-minded kids.”
Many of these friendships lasted beyond the rink and they were there with him to the very end. Kim knows that her brother would want to give other kids the same opportunities to make friendships that would last a lifetime.
This chance will come from the money raised during the event this year and in the years to follow.
Ruppe explained that next year they would partner with KidSport, but because the event was planned on such short notice they will just make it a donation this year.
Despite the sudden planning of the event, the teams for the three-on-three hockey filled up within the day. While this would embody Kyle’s sporty nature, the cabaret and auction will have the same friendly vibe to reflect his personality. Unlike some of the other fundraisers held in his name, such as the 2012 sit-down dinner, The Ruppe Show will feature beef on a bun, a full bar and mingling. Ruppe added, they understand times are tough and would not be expecting people to spend too much. So as long as people have fun in Kyle’s memory, then their aim would be accomplished.
“It is in his memory for everyone to get together and if we raise a few bucks for a good cause then great but if not then it is still great for everyone to get together,” said Ruppe.
The event will not be the only way that Kyle will continue to give back to the community; a hockey scholarship will also be started in his name. The scholarship will come into effect next hockey season for Wheatland midget AA. This will help with enrollment fees and equipment. Kyle played his entire life in Strathmore and so it seemed fitting that the scholarship would go to one of the town’s teams.
“Kyle was the most fun-loving guy,” said Ruppe.
“That is what everybody would definitely say that, the first thing out of our mouths would be he was Mr. Sports and Mr. Personality so the sports side is what everybody remembers him for.”
The hockey tournament will be held on May 6 at the Strathmore Family Centre, and the Cabaret on May 7 at the Civic Centre. Tickets for the Cabaret will be $20 and can be purchased from Kim Ruppe, who can be contacted at kim_ruppe@hotmail.com.