Ever since Jeremy Holmes’ mom, Cathy, was diagnosed with a brain tumour, he’s wanted to do something to show his support.

He decided to hold an event to raise funds and awareness for Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada in his mom’s honour, opting for a curling bonspiel he dubbed the Momma ‘C’ Bonspiel.

Curling wasn’t necessarily a sport he was much into, but thought it was a “Canadian thing” that would bring people together.

“What would interest people enough that they’d keep coming back year after year?” Jeremy says, of his event plan.

Bringing people together through curling

Now in its fifth year, the Momma ‘C’ Bonspiel draws about 50 people annually.

“We’ve had some people who have curled many times and are in leagues, and other people who have never curled in their life,” Jeremy says. “It’s not super competitive. Everybody’s very positive and it’s a happy, fun atmosphere.”

The event, held at the Montreal West Curling Club, has raised upwards of $12,350 since it started.

“There’s no reason I’ll stop because people love going to the curling club, and they love having us,” says Jeremy. “They bend over backwards to accommodate us.”

The Montreal West Curling Club has a bar and a reception area with flowered couches, which Jeremy likens to being in “your grandmother’s basement.” The cozy atmosphere, the camaraderie, and the helpful staff are all key to the event’s success.

Along with Jeremy, of course, who has gotten the organizing part down to a science.

“Now, on year five, it takes me 20 minutes to prepare for the tournament,” he says, “whereas in year one, it took me 20 hours.”

Cathy’s ongoing journey

Jeremy hopes to get ‘Momma C’ out to a bonspiel one of these days, but she lives eight hours away and it hasn’t worked out, logistically, for her to make it.

Cathy was diagnosed in 2007, after an incident she experienced at home. She’d been cleaning the bathroom and tried to speak to her niece, who was there, but the words wouldn’t come out. She learned soon after that she had a brain tumour.

“It grew from a pea to a grape in two months,” Jeremy says.

Cathy had surgery and recovered well, until another tumour was discovered on the other side of her brain.

“It doesn’t seem to be excessively affecting her so far,” Jeremy says. “She’ll have some discomfort from time to time, which is often stress-induced, but she’s being monitored for now.”

Jeremy continues to do what he can to support his mom, and others who have been affected by a brain tumour diagnosis, with his incredible fundraising efforts. From all of us at Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, we offer our sincere gratitude to Jeremy for running his ‘Momma C Bonspiel,’ year after year.

To learn more about the bonspiel, please visit MommaCBonspiel2025.