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CAPTAINS UNITE TO HELP CONQUER ALZHEIMER'S

By: Dan Berlin, Pro-Am Blogger - 05/04/2013

There are 30 teams competing in the upcoming 2013 Scotiabank Pro-Am for Alzheimer's with one goal in mind – to emerge victorious, both on and off the ice, by helping to raise money for this great cause.  

Last year's event raised an incredible $2.3 million in support of Baycrest in Toronto, and this year's team captains have hit the ground running – or the “ice skating,” so to speak. Those 30 leaders are in charge of motivating their respective teams to meet their (minimum) goal of $25,000 in funds raised.

With the 2013 Pro-Am less than a month away, the teams and their captains are sharpening their blades to make a final fundraising push down the home stretch. And there’s added incentive, too. The team that raises the most money gets the first overall pick at the Pro-Am Draft Party and the chance to have first crack at suiting up with the NHL alumni of their choice.

While the event is always a ton of fun for all involved – including the aforementioned Draft Party, May 2 at Toronto’s Real Sports Bar and Grill, along with a two-day hockey tournament May 3-4 at York University’s Canlan Ice Sports – getting there, from a fundraising standpoint, isn’t always easy.

“It’s a lot of hard work,” said Howard Forberg, who will be participating in his seventh Pro-Am this year as captain of Team Decorium. “It’s a lot of staying on top of the players to make sure they’re out there soliciting their donations.”

Forberg’s team has finished in the top eight in fundraising over each of the last seven years, due in no small part to the strategy he employs as team captain.

“Start early, keep at it often, and have good people around you who will support you. Those are the keys.”

Another great supporter of the Scotiabank Pro-Am for Alzheimer’s is Toronto’s Stephen Little, currently the top individual fundraiser for this year’s event with an astounding $18,950 collected to date. But Little, a consummate team guy, sees the bigger picture if his squad is going to have a chance of reaching its ultimate goal. 

“I think the big thing for fundraising is the team effort,” said Little, who’s taking part in his sixth Pro-Am. “The individual can’t raise enough money on their own. You need to have all of the team doing their part to put up big numbers.”

More than just having the chance to play with former NHL greats, the greatest motivator for these teams in reaching their lofty fundraising goals is the actual cause itself – finding a cure for Alzheimer’s. When speaking with the former players and the captains, there is a consensus; everyone seems to know someone, directly or indirectly, affected by this terrible disease and they want to help make a difference.

“On the one hand, I look at it as raising money for charity, but more so I consider it as an investment in my own future,” said Ron Fine, who will be a fixture between the pipes as a captain and goalie at this year’s event. 

“Alzheimer’s terrifies me.  I’d like to see it eradicated.”

Scroll through the live blog below from Scotiabank Pro-Am for Alzheimer’s “Captain’s Appreciation Night,” held April 3, 2013 at Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto. It features photos, videos and stories from a fun evening at the former Maple Leaf Gardens, including a game of shinny between the captains and participating members of the NHL Alumni, including: Marcel Dionne, Gary Leeman, Brad May and Dennis Maruk.