Celebrity hockey players join golfers in fight against cancer
Today Northwestern Ontario hockey celebrities hit the greens in support of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation’s Northern Cancer Fund.
30 homegrown hockey players participated in the Freedom 55 Financial Thunder Bay Hockey Celebrity Golf Classic at Whitewater Golf Course. The hockey celebrities joined teams of golfers to raise funds to help fight cancer in Northwestern Ontario.
The celebrity roster included Eric, Jordan, Marc and Jared Staal, Alex Auld, Taylor Pyatt, Brett Clouthier, Katie Weatherston, Lakehead University Thunderwolves Joel Sherban, Chris Whitley and Jordan Smith, and 20 others.
The honour of choosing the first draft pick (Jordan Staal) went to event sponsor Bearskin Airlines, whose “Hall-of-Fame” sponsor package included the privilege. “By supporting this tournament, Bearskin Airlines not only ensures a wonderful event for hockey fans continues to enjoy success. It also brings better care to cancer patients in this community,” say Cliff and Harvey Friesen.
The hockey players feel the same way, according to Eric Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes. “We are all connected to Northwestern Ontario, and genuinely care about the people who live here,” he says. “We’re all happy to do our part to help fight cancer.”
While the total amount raised today is still being calculated, the Freedom 55 Financial Thunder Bay Hockey Celebrity Golf Classic has raised over $100,000 for the Northern Cancer Fund in four years. Glenn Craig, President & CEO of the Health Sciences Foundation is thrilled by the results. “The impact those funds have on care for cancer patients cannot be understated,” he says. “We appreciate the efforts of the organizers, sponsors and volunteers, so many of whom are Freedom 55 Financial advisors, administrative staff and management.”
The tournament is supported by a $10,000 corporate contribution from Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life through The Key to Giving™, the companies’ national corporate citizenship program. Freedom 55 Financial is the financial security planning division of London Life.
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For further information, please contact:
Tracie Smith
Communications Officer, Health Sciences Foundation
Tel: (807) 684-7111 Cel: (807) 621-9438
Tracie.Smith@healthsciencesfoundation.ca
