Latest news with #Hayduk
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Climate
- Winnipeg Free Press
Look for the helpers
It's easy these days to get caught in the trap of thinking everything is awful. But I'm here to assure you, folks, there's still plenty of good happening in the world — even if it sometimes gets buried beneath all the doom and gloom. The past few days have been a healthy reminder for me. Let's start with Monday, when I took part in one of my favourite summer events — a charity golf tournament. This one was in support of Manitoba's Cardiac Centre of Excellence at St. Boniface Hospital, which helps tens of thousands of patients every year. Mother Nature (mostly) cooperated, keeping the forecasted rain (mostly) at bay, and by day's end, $100,000 had been raised — money that will do wonders for the community. It was a vivid reminder of the generous spirit of Manitobans, and it definitely warmed my heart as I played on the Free Press team along with president and CEO Mike Power and vice-president of revenue and business development Michele Prysazniuk. Advertisement Why this ad? On Tuesday morning, I joined about 50 volunteers as they hit the streets of Winnipeg to deliver kindness to those who need it most. Led by Mitch Bourbonniere and the incredible folks at Ogijiita Pimatiswin Kinamatwin (OPK), they head out twice a week with much-needed food, water, clothing and personal supplies for dozens of people living on the streets. This was part of a bigger project I've been working on this summer, with the finished product set to appear next month in the newspaper. The outing reminded me of a story Fred Rogers — better known as Mr. Rogers — often told about his mother: 'When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'' Anyone driving down Main Street that morning would have seen the helpers in spades. It was a poignant, powerful display. And then, earlier today, I found myself back on the golf course — this time to meet a remarkable young man from Minnesota. Charlie Bristow has built a large following through his Instagram account, Charlie's Golfing Club. Charlie lives with advanced scoliosis and is on the autism spectrum, and he's found comfort in the game of golf, travelling across the United States — and now into Canada — to tee it up. A Winnipegger named Eugene Hayduk heard about Charlie's journey and invited him and his father to play here. I was asked to round out their foursome. 'Charlie's story inspired me, as I've worked with a number of youth with autism spectrum disorder,' said Hayduk, a social worker. 'I've also endured several surgeries for my stage-four cancer diagnosis, as has Charlie for his scoliosis. Seeing him swing the club, given his challenges, inspired me — so I've been following his journey closely.' I'm writing a feature story on Charlie and his experience, which you'll find online Friday afternoon and in Saturday's paper. Like Hayduk — and now myself — I hope you, too, will come away inspired. A few programming notes for the coming weeks: Next week, I'll have daily tee-to-green coverage of the Manitoba Open, being held this year at Breezy Bend. Talk about a full-circle moment — the last time the course hosted the tournament was in 1993, when I was an 18-year-old caddying in it. Now, 32 years later, I'll be covering it for the Free Press for the eighth time. Four-time men's amateur champ Braxton Kuntz will start his pro career on his home golf course at the Manitoba Open. (Thomas Friesen / The Brandon Sun files) I had the chance to sneak in a round at Breezy on Tuesday — yes, I've been doing a LOT of 'work-related' golfing this week — and let me just say the PGA Tour Americas pros are in for a treat. The course is in pristine condition. One piece of advice to the field of 156, not that they need any from a duffer like me: stay out of the rough. It's already about four inches long, and by the time the 72-hole event begins next Thursday, it'll be closer to five. It can be a beast to escape. I speak from experience — after hacking my way through it all afternoon, my arms and back are still feeling it. Once a new champion is crowned on Aug. 24, I'll be stepping away from the paper (and this newsletter) for a brief holiday break, returning Sept. 9. When I'm back, I'll be putting the finishing touches on that news project I mentioned earlier before diving head-first into what should be a fascinating season of Winnipeg Jets coverage. This will be my 10th year on the hockey beat, and it all gets rolling Sept. 17 when training camp officially opens. We've got big plans this year — including taking our NHL coverage all the way to Italy, where I'll be in Milan for the Winter Olympics. I can't wait.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Charlie's Golfing Club Tour continues to inspire
Eugene Hayduk is dying. And while that may be an unusual way to start a sports story, there's nothing ordinary about what you're going to read below. It is a tale of courage and conviction — and making every moment count. Hayduk, 64, was first diagnosed with stage-four thyroid cancer six years ago. After an extensive surgery and countless bouts of radiation and chemotherapy, the long-time Winnipeg social worker recently learned it has spread to much of his body. He is now considered palliative. Time is the enemy. With that in mind, Hayduk is trying to make the most of however many days he might have left. And the self-proclaimed 'golf nut,' who first picked up a club 50 years ago, has found motivation in a most unlikely form. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS Charlie's Golfing Club Tour hit the links at Bel Acres on Thursday. (From left) Eugene Hayduk, Charlie Bristow, Bill Bristow, Cal Zankowski. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS Charlie's Golfing Club Tour hit the links at Bel Acres on Thursday. (From left) Eugene Hayduk, Charlie Bristow, Bill Bristow, Cal Zankowski. Specifically, the Instagram account of Minnesota golfer Charlie Bristow, who has autism spectrum disorder and a unique, self-taught swing shaped by scoliosis and spinal fusion surgery. Travelling North America with his father, Bill, Charlie has become a social media sensation by showing what's possible with drive and determination. 'On days when I'm struggling and going through tough stuff, I'll watch Charlie's videos,' Hayduk told the Free Press this week. 'And that's what inspires me, knowing what he's overcome and that it doesn't let it stop him from hitting the ball.' Hayduk recently reached out to Charlie and Bill, who manages his online presence and serves as his personal chaperone and caddy, to express his gratitude. One thing led to another, and suddenly 'Charlie's Golfing Club Tour' — that's the name of the online account — was making its first-ever stop in Manitoba as the pair drove up from their home near St. Paul. It happened Thursday morning at Bel Acres — where Hayduk purchased a membership this summer — shortly after an intense thunderstorm that threatened to wash out the entire thing gave way to perfectly timed sunshine and drying winds. 'This is my Masters,' Hayduk said, grinning as he welcomed Charlie and Bill to the course The Free Press joined them for the 18-hole round. Rounding out the group was Hayduk's good friend, Cal Zankowski, who won a Memorial Cup with the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers in 1988 and later played two seasons with the University of Manitoba Bisons. Zankowski also knows the pain of loss — his young son, Cody, died from cerebral palsy in 2007. 'I admire parents who can have that kind of connection with their child,' said Zankowski. 'I would have loved to have been able to do something like that with my son.' Golf may have been the setting, but this truly was a form of therapy for everyone involved. 'Just look at what's happening here. My heart is so full seeing this, from a personal and professional viewpoint,' said Hayduk, who fought back tears at various times. 'It's just beautiful to watch.' It sure was. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS Charlie Bristow has gained fame through an Instagram acount called Charlie's Golfing Club Tour. His latest stop was at Bel Acres where he played Eugene Hayduk on Thursday in what Hayduk called his 'Masters' tournament. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS Charlie Bristow has gained fame through an Instagram acount called Charlie's Golfing Club Tour. His latest stop was at Bel Acres where he played Eugene Hayduk on Thursday in what Hayduk called his 'Masters' tournament. As Hayduk astutely pointed out, Charlie 'is really something.' The polite 26-year-old carries himself with the poise and presence of a PGA Tour professional — fixing every ball mark and divot he sees, carefully tending to the flagstick, and meticulously lining up his putts. And his swing must be seen to be believed — something he had to completely re-adjust at the age of 13 when two steel rods were inserted in his back as an alternative to what might have been years in a back brace with no guarantee of success. 'After that surgery, he had to invent his own swing. We had to figure it out,' said his father. 'The key thing was where was he going to stand? He'll hit probably 10-12 fairways per round. He's hit all 14 five times. He does really, really well.' Consider this: Charlie recently shot a career-best two-over 73 at a course in Montana. He may not be the longest driver off the tee, but accuracy can be a heck of a weapon. 'I always told Charlie the great equalizer is him hitting it down the fairway. (Others) may hit it 20, 30, 40 yards longer than you, but the equalizer is for you to hit the fairways,' said Bill. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS 'I really do enjoy the folks that are following me. Everywhere I go it's just been great,' said Charlie Bristow. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS 'I really do enjoy the folks that are following me. Everywhere I go it's just been great,' said Charlie Bristow. Sure enough, Charlie's first shot of the day was perfectly striped down the middle of the first hole at Bel Acres. But it's on the green where he really starts to shine, with an incredible eye for speed and break and the kind of touch you simply can't teach. Want proof? He parred the first four holes Thursday, including rolling in a 35-footer on the second hole which his father said wouldn't even crack the top 10 of his longest putts ever. He would know, since he literally keeps a list, with an 86-footer in Utah still the one to beat. 'I used to play soccer, but I wanted to find an individual sport that I could just see if I could do well,' Charlie said of picking up a club at the age of nine as part of a camp he attended for children with special needs. It was love at first swing. 'I've been doing it for a long time, and I want to continue to do better,' he said. 'With the type of swing I have, I didn't expect to be able to hit the ball a reasonable distance. I'm not comparing myself to anybody else. I'm just thinking in my mind, 'what do I need to do to improve?' I know there's ways to do it.' Charlie already has two aces on his resumé. He nearly added a third on this day. 'Golf has been a wonderful thing for Charlie,' said his father. Physically, mentally and emotionally — particularly when it comes to his autism. For example, Charlie was initially terrified to play with strangers at a golf course, which can be required when times get busy. Bill recalls the first time that ever happened, with Charlie repeatedly saying, 'Why do I have to play with them?' Now? He's a social butterfly, engaging in playful banter and small talk, talking about his favourite golfers (Rickie Fowler and Nelly Korda) and yelling things like 'You're a stud!' when Zankowski crushes a drive off the tee. There's also a pretty wicked sense of humour. 'Good thing I'm not wearing my USA sweater, or else a bunch of Canadians might be fighting over me,' said Charlie with a chuckle. Hayduk, who has worked with countless children and young adults who are autistic at various schools throughout his career and now in his private practice, can only marvel at what he's seeing — and the role the sport he loves has played in it. 'In our business we talk about, 'how do people get regulated?' Well, Charlie is regulated because of what Bill has done. He's given him a purpose, he's given him something to really connect to and enjoy and master,' he said. 'That, to me, is absolutely a thing of beauty. That does my heart good.' Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Bill, a former state government employee, has dedicated his retirement to keeping his only son happy and healthy. He doesn't golf himself, but carries a tripod around the course to shoot video of Charlie's shots, along with his own play-by-play as if he were Jim Nantz. 'You never know when he's going to do something amazing,' said Bill. They are then uploaded to an Instagram account that has now swelled to more than 50,000 followers. 'Maybe it's the way I swing the club and set myself up different than everyone else?' Charlie said when asked about the support. 'I really do enjoy the folks that are following me. Everywhere I go it's just been great.' There's also a charitable element to what they do, with more than $60,000 pledged by followers for autism organizations. Charlie has a part-time job at a grocery store, working three four-hour shifts a week while also being able to take unpaid time away to go on these tours with his father, who he calls his role model. 'We have a really good bond,' he said. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS Charlie Bristow with his dad Bill (left) at Bel Acres Golf Course Thursday. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS Charlie Bristow with his dad Bill (left) at Bel Acres Golf Course Thursday. Before they headed home on Friday morning, Charlie and Bill took in Thursday night's Winnipeg Blue Bombers game at the invitation of kicker Sergio Castillo. Bill does remote, part-time statistical work for a Texas high school football team, which had a connection with Castillo, who invited them down to field level prior to kickoff. Bel Acres was officially the 276th different course Charlie has now played — he shot 90, which would be about average for him, especially in strong winds. There are already plans well into 2026 to keep adding to that number in various locales, including a first-ever father-and-son trip to the United Kingdom. Hayduk had one final request as they sat inside the clubhouse following their round, enjoying lunch. 'Put this down in your calendar again for next year. I plan to still be here,' he told Charlie and Bill. 'Watching what you've experienced and how you carry yourself truly inspires me.' X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg Mike McIntyreReporter Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike. Every piece of reporting Mike produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This Pennsylvania man lost his life savings after getting scammed — twice — losing $70,000 in wire transfers
The first scam that cost Ed Hayduk of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, most of his life savings started with a simple text message. The text appeared to be meant for someone else, Hayduk told CBS Philadelphia, but instead of ignoring it he decided to reply. They texted back and forth for nearly a week, he says, before the scammer asked if he was interested in investing in cryptocurrencies. "It was all just friendly, and it seemed real," Hayduk said. "It seemed like, well all right, I don't have my money invested in anything to earn real money so let's give it a try. And then the money went up quickly." I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) A near-record number of Americans are grappling with $1,000 car payments and many drivers can't keep up. Here are 3 ways to stay ahead Protect your retirement savings with these 5 essential money moves — most of which you can complete in just minutes He says the crypto scammer kept him on the hook long enough to snag $50,000 before disappearing. That amount represented a majority of his life savings — the rest of which he lost in a romance scam shortly afterward, another $20,000. All in all, Hayduk sent two different scammers $70,000 through wire transfers, a type of scheme experts say is particularly difficult to recover money from. Now, he wants to help prevent others from falling into the same trap. Hayduk says the crypto scammer didn't ask for large sums at first. He was asked to wire $1,000 into a crypto wallet, then $2,000. However, the requests kept coming until he had sent a total of $50,000. Hayduk showed CBS Philadelphia statements the scammers sent, which appeared to show his investment growing. In one statement, Hayduk's balance was more than $100,000. Scammers use this tactic to keep victims on the hook and convince them to hand over even more cash. The promise of easy money — and the feeling of friendship — can be difficult for victims to walk away from. "I can't even describe it, you're alone," Hayduk said. After the first scammer disappeared, that loneliness led Hayduk to join a dating website. There, he met someone with an elaborate tale of needing money to get back to the United States. According to Hayduk, the pair spoke for several months via text and email, sent each other photos and even talked on the phone. He says the woman claimed she needed cash to insure a payout her employer owed her. Hayduk ended up wire transferring another $20,000. Hayduk has now compiled all the messages from both scams into binders as he tries to make sense of the schemes that robbed him of his life savings. "I feel stupid," he told the local broadcaster. "That's how you feel." Read more: Home prices in America could fly through the roof in 2025 — here's the big reason why and how to take full advantage (with as little as $10) The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns consumers that wiring money is like sending cash — it can't be recovered in most cases. That's a big reason why scammers ask for funds to be sent via wire transfer. The agency also warns against responding to text messages from unknown numbers. Fraudsters might send a simple text like, "Hi, how are you?" and if you reply they may try to keep the conversation going until they've gained your trust. The best way to avoid scams is to ignore and report texts from people you don't know. Here are a few other ways to avoid being scammed: Never wire money to someone you haven't met in person: If a stranger asks for a wire transfer, there's a good chance it's a scam, even if they claim to be with the government or say you've won something. Be wary of anyone who pressures you to send money immediately: Scammers tend to create urgency or fear to prevent you from thinking critically or asking for help. Verify investment opportunities before transferring funds: Scams involving crypto, stocks or real estate often promise big returns only to disappear with your money. Be skeptical of online friends or romantic interests who ask for wire transfers: Romance scammers often spend months building trust before making financial requests. Check with your bank before wiring money: Many financial institutions can flag suspicious transactions and help you spot scams before they make off with your cash. If you think you've been scammed, report it immediately to the FTC, your bank or local law enforcement. If you've already wired money, contact the wire transfer company and tell them it was fraud. They may be able to reverse the wire transfer in some cases. Jamie Dimon issues a warning about the US stock market — says prices are 'kind of inflated.' Crashproof your portfolio with these 3 rock-solid strategies One dozen eggs in America now costs $4.15 — and $14.35 for a pound of sirloin steak. Both record highs. 3 simple ways to protect your wealth in 2025 Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
