Zorro has nothing on Oliver Smith.
With the swipe of his sword, the masked fictional character left his signature ‘Z’ on each fallen foe, while Oliver is stamping an indelible mark – a small heart nestled inside an ‘O’ –while raising money for the fight against Ewing Sarcoma.
That one-of-a-kind signature can be found on each Ollie Bot – the wooden robots he and his family have created as a fundraiser for the rare childhood bone cancer, one Oliver was diagnosed with two years ago.
The signature ‘O’ – more specifically – is fashioned in the general area where a person’s left hip would be, the spot where doctors found his cancer.
What began as a fun father-son project – with a lot of creativity – is now a growing sensation.
“It has become so much more than just a block of wood,” Bryan Smith said.
With more than 1,300 Ollie Bots having rolled off the family assembly line, the effort has garnered more than $20,000, which has not only gone to the fight against Ewing Sarcoma, but also to helping families whose children are facing health challenges.
“Never in our wildest dreams,” Shauna Grant-Smith said, when asked if they envisioned the effect of Ollie Bots.
In their garage workshop – an uninsulated one that has gotten cold in recent weeks, as Bryan is quick to point out – they started with six blocks of wood, which became the first Ollie Bot’s head, torso, arms and legs.
Those body parts – not surprisingly, considering the family’s passion for the sport – were connected by hockey skate laces.
With the finishing touches – jiggly eyes and a Toronto Maple Leafs’ decal over the heart, a reflection of Oliver’s NHL allegiance – Ollie Bots were born.
The initial goal – making 20 or so of the keepsakes for friends and family – would become what is now a blossoming fundraiser.
“It has been incredible,” Bryan said of the support their effort has received.
Team effort
Just like in hockey, the success of Ollie Bots has been a team effort, starting with Oliver and his family.
Along with his parents and older sisters – Emma and Megan – they have fashioned hundreds of the wooden robots during family nights.
“If they smell OK [after], I use them,” Shauna said, with a laugh, of one of her key roles – laundering the countless skate laces they receive.
Toting grocery bags with materials to hockey tournaments, so she can do some assembly work in rink “warm rooms,” has become commonplace.
And for Bryan, of course, there are those chilly moments in the garage – at least at this time of the year – preparing the wooden blocks for assembly.
RELATED STORY:
Oliver’s uncle, Brad, continues to contribute his graphic design expertise to the process.
There are the myriad teams, including the St. F.X. X-Women and X-Men, along with the Antigonish Farmers’ Mutual Junior Bulldogs, which continue to donate laces.
Not to mention the clubs – even at the NHL level, such as the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins – who have sent decals that are used for customized Ollie Bots.
There are the efforts of students, teachers and staff from the Strait Regional Centre for Education – where Bryan is employed as a teacher – including woodshops providing cut outs for the robots, collecting laces or initiating fundraisers.
“We have received so much support – it has been overwhelming,” Shauna said.
On the road
Ollie Bots – and their important message – have become well-travelled, including one making a recent trip to Hawaii with Oliver’s great aunt.
“We just got one of him ice fishing,” Shauna said, with a laugh, recalling one of the many photos they receive of the wooden robots enjoying adventures.
There is another, as she put it, enjoying his “favourite beverage.”
And, when it comes to the variety of decals used to help customize each one, there has been everything from one celebrating gay pride to another for a fighter pilot in Cold Lake, Alberta.
Several universities, including St. F.X., have ordered ones with their respective logos.
There have been birthday and graduation gifts, along with Ollie Bots made in memory of loved ones – both of the two and four-legged variety.
Several events, including hockey tournaments and dance competitions, have opted to award Ollie Bots as opposed to trophies.
To further illustrate the variety – and meaning behind each one – Shauna held up one with a Ewing sarcoma survivor’s symbol over its heart, which was being sent to a young lady battling the same cancer as Oliver.
As a way to say thank you, the family has donated Ollie Bots to a variety of events and fundraisers.
Celebrity recipients
The celebrity list of recipients includes forward Mitch Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs – Oliver’s favourite player – along with the legendary Sidney Crosby.
Oliver, a Grade 6 student at Saint Andrew Junior School, had an opportunity to meet both players last March as part of his Children’s Wish Foundation adventure.
He travelled to Toronto for a match-up between the Maple Leafs and Crosby’s Penguins, which also included visits to the home locker room and the Hockey Hall of Fame.
“It was awesome,” Oliver said of the experience.
Although it was not part of the initial plan, he was able to meet Crosby, thanks to a text message sent to the superstar by Ken Reid, a native of Pictou County and Sportsnet personality.
They also enjoyed a tour of the sport network’s Toronto studios, where they met the likes of Evanka Osmak, Christine Simpson and Jim Hughson; not to mention Tim Micallef and Sid Seixeiro – hosts of the popular Tim & Sid show – who received Ollie Bots.
Last fall, Oliver and Bryan made their way to Boston to watch his beloved Leafs skate against the Bruins.
While enjoying that experience – one put together by former pro player and current Boston scout Dennis Bonvie of Frankville, Antigonish County – they met Jen Caruso, a student at Northeastern University who is involved with a number of cancer fundraisers, including Swirls Around the World in memory of her cousin Matthew Cirelli, who had Ewing Sarcoma.
“We have been able to meet some incredible people and share our stories,” Shauna said.
Journey continues
As for Oliver’s continuing journey, it has included two recurrences of the disease, since his initial cancer diagnosis.
A couple days after returning from Boston, the now 11-year-old and his mother packed their bags for a visit to the Cleveland Clinic, where the youngster received cryotherapy treatment, which uses dry ice to freeze and kill active cancer cells.
His recovery from that most recent procedure includes medications and using crutches – albeit less and less – to help get around.
Although he cannot play, at this point, Oliver remains a key member of the Antigonish Pee Wee ‘AAA’ Bulldogs, making road trips and offering support to his teammates.
“We have a good team,” Oliver noted.
For more about Ollie Bots, visit the fundraiser’s Facebook page – Facebook.com/olliebots – and for more information, including how to purchase an Ollie Bot, email [email protected]