Head table guest Eric Lindros with 2008 Ambassador Madison Bush.
Meet celebrity athletes, support a good cause
Wednesday, November 21, 2007 -- Natalie Miller
When a young sports fan meets a hockey great like Eric Lindros, it's a
moment he or she won't soon forget.
The meeting has an important impact on the sports celebrities too, says
Michelle Allen, communications and special events representative for Thames
Valley Children's Centre.
The London children's treatment centre's (CTC's) annual Sports Celebrity
Dinner and Auction is one of the centre's most popular fundraisers. While
the fundraising portion of the event happens during the dinner and auction,
the real highlight for the youth the centre supports and the athletes occurs
during the afternoon, "We're All-Stars' is the heart of the event," says Allen.
It's an opportunity for children with special needs to meet the athletes and
receive autographs. "It's fabulous for the kids but fabulous for the
athletes themselves to see what they're coming out to raise money for," she
says.
The annual sports celebrity dinner and auction is in its 52nd year. The
centre sells about 900 tickets annually. "We sell out every year," says
Allen.
To date, the event has raised more than $1.3 million to support programs and
services that help kids with disabilities "reach for the stars." The 2007
Sports Celebrity Dinner raised more than $55,000 for the children of Thames
Valley Children's Centre.
This year's dinner and auction is on Monday, Jan. 12, 2008 at the London
Convention Centre.
The keynote speaker is Catriona Le May Doan (the fastest woman on ice).
Other guests are former Toronto Maple Leaf player Doug Gilmour, Eric
Lindros - team captain of the Philadelphia Flyers from 1994 to 1999 and of
the 1998 Canadian Olympic team in Nagano, Dave 'Tiger' Williams - former
Maple Leaf fan favourite, Yvan 'the Roadrunner' Cournoyer - winner of 10
Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens, and Jane Rumball and Darcy
Marquardt - 2006 World Rowing Champions. The emcee is Chris Potter, an actor
and former Londoner.
Tickets are available at the Centennial Hall Box Office by calling
519-672-1967 or by going online at centennialhall.london.ca
Prices are $150 for adults and $75 for youth (17 and under). Net proceeds
benefit the Thames Valley Children's Centre and research at Fowler Kennedy
Sport Medicine Clinic.