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12 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday May 2, 2007 12 Living Oakville Beaver LIVING EDITOR: ANGELA BLACKBURN www.oakvillebeaver.com Phone: 905-845-3824, ext. 248 Fax: 905-337-5567 e-mail: angela@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2007 Hockey fundraiser faces off against cancer By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF They're young, they've just graduated university, they've landed jobs, they still like to play hockey -- and while they used to play for fun, this Sunday they'll be playing for the cause. The group of former T. A. Blakelock hockey buddies have also all been touched by cancer despite their youthful age and say they now have the time to give back to their community. After watching immediate family members to some very close friends wage battles with cancer recently, the hockey buddies are fighting back by giving back to the Canadian Cancer Society, Oakville Unit. They hope to raise $10,000. Play for the Cause will begin with a ceremonial puck drop Sunday, May 5 at Oakville Ice Sports Arena and its Thirsty Penguin bar at 2300 Cornwall Rd. Three hockey games will begin shortly at 4 p.m. and people can either play or watch. Those interested in playing can do so by donating a minimum $100. Spectators are asked for a minimum $10 donation. Food and drinks will be available during the games and after, along with live music, as the party continues in The Thirsty Penguin -- and 10 per cent of all food sales will also be donated. The aim is to raise $10,000, but it appears, the first-time fundraiser brainstormed by the group of young Oakville adults and friends could raise much more. The "Executive Committee" of the event includes Mark Murray, 23, Mike Enns, 24, Jeff Brown, 23, Greg Schmidt, 23 ­ all of Oakville, and Sara White, 22 of Lorne Park. Three games will occupy the rinks of the Ice Sports Arena at 4:15 p.m., 5:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. "There will be non-stop action all afternoon," said White. According to Enns, the games will be 90 KAREN NEWMAN / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER FACE OFF: Organizers of the Play for the Cause are, from left, Greg Schmidt, Mark Murray, Sara White, Jeff Brown, and Mike Enns. The guys are all graduates of Thomas A. Blakelock High School where they played with The Tigers. minutes each, will have three periods each, team will have a coach and it will be a quick automatic overtime and an automatic shoot out turnaround to whip up the suitable team spirit (no matter what the score), to make the fun complete. music between breaks and "We're all home from "We've all been playing someone on the mic, "Just to school now, we've all hockey together for more than keep it fun for everyone." 10 years. We all went to high graduated and we have "We had all been discussing school together, at Blakelock," doing something like this. We the time to do this and said Enns. have the time and we thought give back to our That is except for White, it would be a great cause," said community." who went to Lorne Park Enns. Secondary School in "We're all home from Sara White Mississauga, and played hockschool now, we've all graduatey with the Mississauga Girls ed and we have the time to do this and give back Hockey League (MGHL) until she was 18. to our community," said White. The group all played hockey at Blakelock For players arriving at the arena Sunday, it with The Tigers. will be at registration that they find out what Murray, Enns and Brown played AAA rep jersey to don and what team they're on. Each hockey with the Oakville Rangers. They all play in the Adult Safe Hockey League (ASHL) on a team called The Moose. "It's a beer league," said Schmidt. "We are such a large group of friends so we thought there would be the potential to do something and generate a substantial amount of money and this was a good cause," said Schmidt. "In February, I was lucky enough to receive an e-mail from Greg Schmidt, a member of our community and first-time event organizer. Greg, along with a group of friends, is organizing a brand new fundraising hockey tournament that will benefit the Canadian Cancer Society. Greg and his group of friends have been deeply touched by cancer in the last few years. A couple of his really close friends have had battles with cancer-- one of these friends is helping to organize this event," said Lisa Moffatt, fundraising co-ordinator for the Cancer Society's local unit. "Their idea was to host a hockey tournament called `Play For the Cause'. Greg and his friends have all grown up in Oakville playing hockey and they thought this would be a great way for them to give back to our community. They have done an outstanding job in organizing this event so far. They have been a delight to work with," said Moffatt. According to the Executive Committee, all you need to know about organizing a fundraising event is available through the Cancer Society website at www.cancer.ca. Play for the Cause has also been organized via the Internet and websites and anyone interested in participating or for information can email playforthecause@hotmail.com. Not only will the winning teams pick up awards, but the player who raises the most for the cause will win a set of Toronto Maple Leafs tickets. There will be a silent auction and prizes available at the tournament include golf clubs, sporting event tickets and more. For information about playing, participating or sponsoring the event email playforthecause@hotmail.com. Loyola kicking off 25th anniversary celebration St. Ignatius of Loyola is celebrating its 25th anniversary this weekend and a 5K Fun Run has been added to the lineup of special events. Loyola was the first Catholic high school in Ontario to be fully constructed with Ministry of Education capital grants in the wake of the extension of full public funding to Catholic school boards in Ontario. The anniversary theme is Celebrate & Reunite and when the party is over, a legacy will be left behind. All proceeds from the 25th anniversary celebrations will go to the creation of an alumni scholarship fund to be awarded annually to a male and female graduating student. Details of the anniversary celebration are on the Loyola anniversary website at www.loyola25.myevent.com. Reunion celebrations will be kicked off tomorrow with a Music Night, the school's annual celebration -- and any alumni musicians interested in playing a Registration is online. tune or two are invited to RSVP The fun run will take place online. just beforehand at 9 a.m. at the A Staff Reunion will also be school. held tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. in the According to Libby Dunneschool library. It's open to all curSamsworth, a Loyola teacher rent and former teachers, educaworking with Barbara Celestini tional assistants, administrators, on the Fun Run, it would be a secretarial and support staff. great warm up for the soccer On Friday, there will be a game. Meet and Greet Social and The run will begin and end Silent Auction promising a at Loyola. There's a $10 fee to night of nostalgia featuring Brian Arsenault participate and those signing photos and memorabilia. up in advance will receive a TThis event will have a cash bar and light shirt. Registration can be done on race day, too. snacks. Dress code is casual, but those attendAll run proceeds will support the scholarship ing must be 19 or older. It will be held at Loyola fund. from 7 p.m.-midnight. Cost is $15. The Fun Run is for all ages and can be run On Saturday, there will be an Alumni Soccer or walked in approximately 20 minutes. Game at 10 a.m. at Loyola for all former male It will wind its way through the local neighand female Loyola Hawks soccer players. bourhood and is sponsored by The Running Company and Price Chopper. Prizes will be awarded. Also on Saturday, there will be an Alumni Golf Tournament at Deerfield Gold Club in Oakville. It will be a Texas-scramble format and lunch and prizes will be provided. First tee-off time is 11:30 a.m. Cost is $100 and registration is online. And, on Saturday, on the Loyola field, there will be a Family Carnival hosted by the school's student council. There will be games and challenges for everyone. It's at 1 p.m., it's free, but registration is again, online. An Anniversary Mass will be held at 5 p.m. at St. Matthew's Church followed by a 25th Anniversary Dinner and Dance at Holy Trinity Croatian Catholic Church Hall from 7 p.m.midnight. Cost is $50 per person and tickets must be purchased in advance.