Carl and Shelly Courneya are best known for the way they dress: donning pink shirts and pink hats, they often walk through Kanata waving pink pool noodles in support of breast cancer research.

They should be known as two of the most generous people in the city of Ottawa.

The charitable couple from Bridlewood was awarded the United Way Community Builders Award on Oct. 29, honouring their unwavering and seemingly limitless commitment to community, exemplified through nearly a decade of non-stop volunteer work.

“We do well with projects,” said a modest Shelly.

“Shell and I are pretty passionate about this and there’s a real satisfaction that both us get from meeting people,” said Carl. “We’ve met people from all walks of life.”

Aside from fundraising for cancer research through the Weekend to End Breast Cancer with Kanata-based team, Saving Our Ta-Tas, – walking in six cities and raising $103,000 with the team this summer – the CIBC Run for the Cure and La Vendemmia’s Annual Grape Stomp, they’re also on their way to collecting $500,000 to build an auditorium at the Ottawa Health Research Institute.

If that’s not enough, they still found time to set up a trust fund for the daughter of a murdered Kanata woman. In two years, with golf tournaments and private fundraisers, they’ve helped bring in close to $100,000 for 16-month-old Ireland Predham.

Carl and Shelly ooze positive energy and enthusiasm and it can be infectious, said Yvonne Harvey, Ireland’s grandmother. She befriended the couple during the Weekend to End Breast Cancer walk three years ago.

“I just think they thrive on doing things like that, they get such a high from it,” said Yvonne.

Their biggest strength is motivating other people to get involved, said her husband Gary Lindfield.

“They both seem to have so much energy and it grows on you,” he said. “They’re just amazing people and amazing friends.

“They’re the type of people who are the unsung heroes.”

The Courneya’s accomplishments are widespread and often undocumented, said Yvonne. Just a few months ago, Shelly selflessly gave away her own living room furniture on a whim to a stranger in need.

“That’s just the kind of people they are,” said Yvonne. “We just think they deserve to be recognized.”

TICKLED PINK

Though they have a long history of community involvement, the Courneyas were spurred to action eight years ago when a friend was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“That really brought that close to home so we did the (CIBC Run for the Cure),” said Shelly, who later joined a group for the Weekend to End Breast Cancer. “The rest is history.”

The friend eventually overcame the deadly disease and has become a staunch supporter of the couple’s many elaborate and inventive fundraising efforts.

For example, Shelly and Carl sell Tickled Pink Cookbooks, with proceeds going to benefit hospitals and foundations across Canada.

The money also helps them reach their minimum personal commitment for the Weekend to End Breast Cancer – each runner needs to raise at least $2,000 per race.

Last year, book sales helped them walk in Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax and Edmonton.

To raise funds for the next walk, Carl and Shelly are planning their own charity golf tournament at Maderley-on-the-Green Golf Club.

“(It’s great) to get someone to realize their potential and realize ‘Yes, I can do this,’” said Shelly, on getting friends and acquaintances to join the Weekend to End Breast Cancer walk.

Each year, the group starts training with a five-kilometre walk, which can sometimes daunt newcomers, she said.

“They’ll go ‘Oh, 5K. I can’t walk 5K,’” said Shelly. “But they stick with it and stick with us and (eventually) do 25K.

“As they walk across the finish line, the emotions are just so real and so there.”

“We’ve had some folks who were a bit hesitant, weren’t sure if they could raise money,” said Carl. “They’re coming back next year.”

The Courneyas do so much in the community said Lawrence Greenspon, a member of the United Way, who earned the Community Builders Award in 2007.

“(Shelly and Carl) have worked tirelessly as volunteers and fundraisers on behalf of a number of charitable causes throughout Ottawa,” said Greenspon. “In the last (eight) years, they have devoted an exceptional amount of time, effort and resources to supporting health care services and cancer research.”

ENDURING ENERGY

What turned out to be a fateful night for the philanthropic couple almost never happened at all.

After a bad day at the office, both Carl and Shelly debated whether they should go to the party that was supposed to honour walkers in the Weekend to End Breast Cancer. Little did they know, they were the surprise guests of honour.

“We came this close to not going,” said Shelly. “It was this close, we were in the driveway.”

The two sat in their car, debating whether they should back out of the driveway or head back into the house for a quiet night in front of the TV.

“It was just a hateful day all around,” said Shelly.

“It’s unusual for both us on the same day,” said Carl.

The couple decided to tough it out and were surprised with the award after being called on stage.

“We thought this is pretty impressive, they were saying some really nice things about somebody,” said Carl. “And it was us.”

“We were particularly tickled because of the fact that all of our team was there,” he said.

The team of fellow volunteers and walkers is important to the Courneyas.

“There’s a core team and we’ve become really close friends,” said Shelly.

“Family, almost family,” said Carl.

“You just know that they’re there for you,” said Shelly.

To buy a cookbook or make a donation to Saving Our Ta-Tas, visit
www.tickledpinkcookbook.com.