About
Boomer’s Legacy was created in 2006 to embody the passion Cpl. Andrew “Boomer” Eykelenboom had towards helping people in need in areas where he was deployed as a Canadian Forces Medical Technician. The goal of Boomer’s Legacy is to empower Canadian Forces soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen with the ability to carry on Andrew’s strongly felt desire to provide much needed humanitarian assistance to people in areas of deployed Canadian operations.
Boomer’s Legacy raises funds for these endeavors primarily by “Boomer Rides,” which are road-cycling trips that gather individual and group sponsorship. Currently Boomer Rides are held on an annual basis in British Columbia and Nova Scotia, with Rides in Alberta and Ontario being added this year. There have even been Boomer “Spin-a-Thon” Rides held by deployed troops in Afghanistan! Private donations are also welcome from individuals, groups and other charitable initiatives.
All charitable funds from Boomer’s Legacy go to its operational partner, Boomer’s Trust Fund. Boomer’s Trust makes the funds available to sub-committees, which are operated on a volunteer basis by Canadian Forces members in deployed regions. Humanitarian initiatives funded by Boomer’s Trust are aimed towards improving conditions in areas such as health care, education and opportunities for women, with the goal of building local capacity to provide a lasting impact. Projects can be as small as helping a single person or family (by providing a life saving surgery), to assisting an entire area or institution (by providing equipment to a hospital or supplies to a school). Ideas for projects come from a variety of sources, including CF members and trusted local contacts, with the purpose of addressing areas which would not receive attention from any other source.
In staying true to Cpl. Andrew “Boomer” Eykelenboom’s wishes of Helping Our Soldiers Help Others, the “Boomer Cap” initiative was created. Initially it started as knitting handmade caps that can be given to newborn babies to help keep them warm, it has since grown to all sizes of caps and dishcloths. People from all over the world, Canada, USA, New Zealand and the UK, have bought, donated and/or knit Boomer Caps. To date we have shipped over 300,000 Boomer Caps to Romania, Uganda, Haiti, Cuba, Guatemala, Ethiopia, Ghana, other African countries and Afghanistan. People who can’t knit have purchased yarn for others to knit with. Boomer Caps has helped people all over the world, by Helping Our Soldiers Help Others.
