Supporters of an Edmonton charity were cheering around their televisions Monday night as they watched CBC's Battle of the Blades finale inject $100,000 into their work for people with spinal cord injuries.

The winners were promised $50,000 each to donate to the charity of their choice. For both Jamie Salé and Craig Simpson — declared winners of the competition Monday night in Toronto — that's the Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Centre Society.

Louise Miller, president of Edmonton's Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Centre Society, didn't know if she could watch the Battle of the Blades finale. (CBC)"Quite honestly, I don't have words to describe it, I'm just ... I'm tired for one thing, with all the voting," said Louise Miller, president of the society, who wasn't certain she'd be able to watch.

"I don't know how I'm going to bear up," Miller told CBC News before the show.

That's why Miller has spent the past few weeks trying to rally enough internet votes to help the Edmonton pair win. It has been a lot of work.

"I have accosted people in elevators, at every single event I have been at. I have been telling people I know, and those I don't, to vote," Miller said.

"Everybody's Sunday has been shot for the last few weeks while we voted. I mean people just didn't go out, or if they went out they felt guilty."

Craig Simpson's career as a hockey player was cut short by back injuries, but he stepped up in Battle of the Blades to support his favourite charity. (CBC)Simpson, who is honorary chairman of the charity and a former member of the Edmonton Oilers, had his NHL career ended by back injuries that continue to cause problems.

"One week, he managed one dry run, that was it," said Miller. "The rest of the time he was in ice, lying getting treatment, whatever. I mean, that is courage beyond, and commitment."

Miller said the $100,000 will go towards a research chair the society is looking to establish at the University of Alberta.

"A chair brings a body of knowledge with them from their research, and then their graduate students are also attracted to follow the researcher," Miller said. She said that research helps people with all kinds of health issues involving mobility around the world.

Establishing the chair will require $4 million in funding, so there's still lots of work yet to do, Miller said.