The Cranbrook Heart and Stroke Foundation held the 30th annual Curlathon in mid-February and the event raised over $15,500.

Twenty-two teams took part in the Curlathon and dressed up according to this year’s theme of Mardi Gras.

Event coordinator Verna Oderkirk-Bungay said the event wouldn’t be as successful without the support of service clubs and local businesses, which help with donations of food and prizes.

There were lots of prizes given out during the event: The Sheet Disturbers won the Sportsmanship prize, The Murray Andrich Team was first place in curling and the Show Us Your Boobs team won with the lowest score, Best Team Costumes, Kimberly Bodor won best female costume and Doug Wiseman. The Top Fundraising Team was the Rock Knockers. Jeff Bleaney raised $2,522 and won first place for individual fundraising, Bill Brock won second place for raising $819 and Tom Bungay was third prize for raising $410.

This marks the 10th year in row Bleaney has been named top fundraiser for the Curlathon, which means his name is engraved on the Wally Walters Trophy. The trophy will soon be on display at ABC Country Restaurant, where Bleaney works. His keeper trophy from being the 2009 top fundraiser is on display at Finnegan’s On Ice, where he also works.

He has been raising money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation for 13 years and Oderkirk-Bungay said Bleaney has raised over $15,000 over those years.

Bleaney had an operation in the mid-1970s and that gave him the idea to start raising money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. At first it was difficult for him to ask people to donate.

“When I moved here in 1988…it was hard to do and then finally I got the confidence,” he said. “The only thing they can say is no, they don’t want to donate.

“For the first three years I was getting third place. Then in about 2000 I thought, hey, I think I can do this, why don’t I try and shoot for number one?”

Bleaney is also an avid curler and participates in the Curlathon, dressing in a different costume every year to match the theme.

Bleaney has method he uses for his fundraising. Every November, when the pledge sheets are released, he picks up a bunch and takes them to businesses, where he leaves them until the Curlathon and he also asks for pledges himself, both from people in Cranbrook and some friends and families out of town.

Bleaney said he would like to thank everyone who has given him pledges over the years.