Deacon-Daughter Team Kostamo raises $260k for Burnaby Hospital Foundation

Deacon Tim Kostamo and his daughter, Sophia Kostamo, raised more than $250,000 for the Burnaby Hospital Foundation during a 13 day sailing trip.

The pair participated in the Race to Alaska, a competition where sailors travel from Port Townsend, Washington, to Ketchikan, Alaska. While rowing their 19.5 foot sailing ship, the team encountered heavy winds of 35 knots near Vancouver Island. Sophia Kostamo reported that a large gale prevented them from crossing open water, forcing them to change their plans and end the trip before reaching Alaska.

During the storm, the team rowed up the coast of Vancouver Island for nearly six days. Sophia Kostamo noted that her father steered the vessel for three consecutive hours to maintain control during the intense weather. Despite the change in their racing plans, the team successfully met their fundraising goals for the foundation.