For immediate release: Grey Cup Week Human Interest Story:
Grassroots Canadian Football League Fan Group Fights Pediatric Brain Cancer
VANCOUVER – The BC Lions won’t be playing in the Grey Cup on November 30th, but their fans are busy preparing to raise money for pediatric brain cancer. A fundraiser benefitting the Hannah’s Heroes Foundation will be held Friday November 28, 2014 from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm at Library Square Public House in downtown Vancouver. CFL Fans Fight Cancer (CFLFFC) is a group of CFL fans from across Canada who hold fundraising events at Grey Cup and throughout the year to raise money for cancer charities in their local communities.
Port Coquitlam resident and BCLionsDen.ca blogger Brian Wawryshyn heads the BC chapter of CFLFFC and has organized this year’s event. Brian’s connection to Hannah’s Heroes is personal. High school friend Kathie Hatlen’s daughter Hannah (pictured above) passed away in 2006, at age 5, after a very brave battle with brain cancer. An unimaginable tragedy was made worse when Hannah’s mother Kathie later passed away from cancer herself. Friends and family started Hannah’s Heroes Foundation in 2007 in Hannah’s honour.
This year, the Grey Cup Festival Committee, local businesses and CFL teams across the country have generously donated player-signed jerseys, footballs, photos, and other prizes which will be raffled to Grey Cup goers at Friday’s event. CFLFFC is hoping to raise at least $5,000 for Hannah’s Heroes.
About Pediatric Brain Cancer:
- Brain cancer is an extremely aggressive disease that is difficult to cure and has a high mortality rate.
- Every year, more than 3,500 children in North America are diagnosed with brain cancer.
- Brain tumors are the most common solid tumors and the second leading cause (after leukemia) of cancer-related deaths in children.
About Hannah’s Heroes:
- Hannah’s Heroes Foundation was established in 2007 to honour the memory of 5 year old Hannah Dale Hatlen, who died from pediatric brain cancer in 2006. Hannah’s story is told here. Media page here.
- The Foundation’s mandate is to raise awareness of the lack of research into children’s brain cancers, and to raise money for research into the treatment of children’s brain cancers.
- Hannah’s Heroes Foundation is a registered Society in the Province of British Columbia, and a registered charity with the Canadian Government.
About CFL Fans Cancer (CFLFFC):
- CFLFFC was started in 2005 by Hamilton Tiger-Cats fan Jarrett Harris.
- CFLFFC is a grassroots fundraising group of CFL fans across Canada.
- Since it started, CFLFFC has raised thousands of dollars for charities and foundations such as the Wellspring Cancer Support Centre (Ontario), Hannah’s Heroes Foundation (BC), The Chris Knox Foundation (Saskatchewan) and the Canadian Cancer Society.
Contact Information:
Brian Wawryshyn
BC Chapter, CFL Fans Fight Cancer
Mobile: (604) 374-5451 Email: brian@bclionsden.ca Twitter: @BCLionsDen