It’s been just over two and a half years since Lisa and Mike Rogal lost their oldest son, Kailer, to suicide at the age of 19. But out of their grief has grown a powerful tradition of love, remembrance, and hope for other young people in the community. 

This September marks the third annual Kailer Rogal Memorial Fundraiser, an event that Lisa says has been fueled by family, friends, and an outpouring of community support. 

“We are supporting local youth drop-in centres,” Lisa explained. “The first year was Blumenort, last year was Grunthal, and this year we’re doing Steinbach. Steinbach Youth Drop-In Centre, YFC Backstage, has a very, very special place in our hearts. That is where Kailer would go when he wasn’t at home, and we knew that he was safe; he was being looked after. For a mother of an at-risk youth, that is important.” 

The 2025 fundraiser will be held on Saturday, September 27th, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Bentwood Hall in La Broquerie. The evening will feature a dinner, dance, comedy show, silent auction, and 50/50 draw, all with a western theme. 

“So, Bentwood Hall is located on Hwy 52 between Steinbach and La Broquerie,” Lisa shared. “It’s a beautiful location… and it’s an indoor event. So, bring your dancing shoes or boots; it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

She adds that the evening entertainment will include the return of comedian Big Daddy Taz. Lisa says that last year he brought the perfect mix of laughter and healing to last year’s fundraiser. 

“Turns out that the comedy part of the evening was new for us, but it just worked out so beautifully,” Lisa said. “Even during a serious event, there’s still a time for joy.” 

But behind the fun and laughter lies a serious purpose. This year, proceeds will go toward creating an Emergency Counselling Fund for youth at Steinbach’s Backstage Drop-In Centre. 

“This year, we have opened up an Emergency Counselling Fund for the youth. It was just something that came from our hearts; that youth in crisis need emergency care. We wanted to do something to make that possible, or at least speed up the process.”

Kailer Rogal (left) Mike Rogal's green ribbon jewelry (right)Kailer Rogal (left) Mike Rogal's green ribbon jewelry (right)

For Lisa and Mike, the fundraiser is deeply personal. 

“Our Kailer struggled a lot in his life with his mental health,” Lisa shared. “We actually noticed the change at the age of three, so it was a long, long battle. We lost him two and a half years ago when he was 19. He was just a baby. After he passed, the influx of youth in our life was incredible. We did not expect that. Early on, we wanted to channel our pain into purpose and do something tangible for these kids. They’re struggling. They’re beautiful. They’re so precious. So this is just our piece that we want to offer.” 

The Rogals aren’t doing it alone. Lisa says the event is carried by a “core team of six” as well as volunteers, local groups, and supportive friends. 

“We’ve been connecting with other organizations,” she said. “So, we’ve got Cowboys Racing, we’ve got the Southeast Men’s Group on board. We’re not doing it alone. It’s a team effort.” 

The Rogals have also created a line of hoodies and t-shirts to support the fundraiser, each printed with meaningful, encouraging messages paired with the suicide awareness semicolon symbol. 

“My shirt says ‘Stronger than the storm,’” Lisa explained. “We’ve come up with a few different meaningful phrases, ‘It’s OK not to be OK,’ ‘Your story isn’t over,’ and ‘U -Matter.’ These are things we want to say to everybody around us. It’s just our way of saying, you’re loved and you’re important.” 

Tickets for the event are available until September 20th through posters around town, the Kailer Rogal Memorial Facebook page, or Instagram. 

Lisa says she hopes people come ready for good food, laughter, music, and dancing, but most importantly, ready to support youth who need it most. 

“You never know who needs to hear it,” she said. “You never know who needs to feel that reminder, that they matter.” 

 

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