The storyteller's charity

As published in the Hamilton Spectator
April 4, 2009

Photos and article by Steve Buist, The Hamilton Spectator

A bedkit, new clothing. Murray Dryden's legacy has touched the lives of nearly a million children

SAROLE PATHAR, India (Apr 4, 2009)

The sun beats down mercilessly in this dusty village, and the children file past in waves to have their pictures taken. That's one of the unbreakable rules with Sleeping Children Around The World, a Canadian charity run by former NHL goalie Dave Dryden that distributes bedkits to kids in developing countries.

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Tour a village in India

Each child who receives a bedkit is photographed and each donor gets a picture of the child that was supported.

Every picture tells a poignant story, but none more so than the group of 10 skinny, shoeless children that just passed in front of the camera.

All 10 of them are HIV-positive.

"Those are the ones that really tug on the heartstrings," Dryden tells me.

Seven, eight, nine years old, they live in this remote, forgotten part of India, without running water, indoor plumbing or easy -- if any -- access to health care.

"What are the prospects for those kids?" I ask him.

"It all comes down to the availability of the drugs. But you don't know," Dryden answers, his voice trailing off.

"You don't know."

At the very least, these children now have a better chance of getting a good night's sleep.

Is that important? Dave's father, Murray, thought so. That's why he founded the charity in 1970. He believed that a good night's sleep was the key to survival for the world's poorest children.

In Murray's words, "There is nothing more beautiful and peaceful than a sleeping child."

This year, Sleeping Children Around The World will hand out its one millionth bedkit since the charity was created.

Also from The Hamilton Spectator.

Sleeping Children Around the World

April 04, 2009

Created in 1970 by Murray Dryden, father of NHL goalies Dave and Ken. Dave is now the president and chairman of the charity.
• This year, Sleeping Children will distribute its millionth bedkit since the charity started.
• Bedkits have been handed out in 33 countries. About 400,000 have been handed out in India alone. Service clubs in the host countries, such as Rotarians, assist with distributing the bedkits and identifying the children in need of them. Children must be between the ages of 6 and 12, attending school, and they cannot be homeless.
• In the fiscal year ended Feb. 28, 2008, Sleeping Children received $2.8 million in donations and funded nearly 70,000 bedkits.
• 100 per cent of donated money is spent on bedkits. Administrative expenses are paid by a trust fund set up by Murray Dryden.
• For more information, contact Sleeping Children by phone toll-free at 1-866-321-1841, by email at info@scaw.org or visit the website at scaw.org.