Mocha November 2010.indd - Mocha Shriners

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
Annual Shrine Bowl has raised more than
$700,000 for children's hospital
By RANDY PHILLIPS,
The Gazette September 23, 2010
Concordia quarterback Rob Mackay says there's nothing
like a visit to Montreal's Shriners Hospital for Children
for athletes to appreciate being healthy and able to
do what they do on the football field.
He figures athletes can take being in good physical
heath for granted.
"I think we do," said Mackay, a fifth-year senior from
Chateauguay who's been part of the hospital visit in the
past. "We are privileged and fortunate to be able to play
football. Something like this let's us think and reflect on
how fortunate we are, to understand and appreciate our
opportunities a little more."
Mackay and four teammates from the Stingers, as well
as four players from the Bishop's Gaiters and the head
coaches of both teams, Concordia's Gerry McGrath and
Bishop's Leroy Blugh, visited the hospital yesterday in
advance of the annual Montreal Shrine Bowl at Concordia
Stadium Saturday. The 24th edition of the game
kicks off at 1 p.m. (Radio-Canada, TEAM 990 Radio).
The game has raised more than $730,000
in donations for the hospital over the years.
Tim Cronk, a senior fullback with the Gaiters, called his
first visit to the hospital "an awesome experience."
"It's a great to be in this situation and be able to give back
to the community in this way," the Kingston, Ont., native
said. "This is my first visit, but I certainly heard a lot about
what the hospital does and how it helps so many kids and
their families. Being here is definitively a big motivation
to go on the field and put on a show for everyone."
Recently retired Alouettes centre Bryan Chiu, a ninetime
all-star and the CFL's most outstanding lineman
in 2002, as well as a two-time Grey Cup champion who
is now assistant offensive coordinator, offensive-line
coach and director of the Stinger Football School, is
honourary chairman for the game.
is coming to the Shriners Hospital and giving out gift
baskets to the kids at Christmas. Just seeing the smiles
on their faces was priceless to us. That's something I'll
always cherish.
"Personally, this spring, my 3-year-old son had to have
surgery and it was here at the Shriners, and you can imagine
as parents how nervous you get with your 3-year-old
son having to go under the knife," he said. "But when
we got here, we were treated with nothing but positive
friendly smiles, compassion and they really helped us get
through the day. For that, I want to thank the Shriners."
Shriners patients Annabelle De Rosa, 17, and Donald
McPhee, 15, are Queen and King, respectively, for this
year's game.
De Rosa was born with severe scoliosis, unusual
in newborns, and by age 2 had the first
of 13 surgeries on her back and spinal cord.
She graduated from Letendre College last spring and
plans to attend CEGEP Montmorency next fall to study
nursing.
McPhee, who was born 10 weeks premature
and so small he fit in the palm of his father's
hand, was found to have spastic dipelgia, a
type of cerebral palsy when he was 9 months old.
After many surgeries and treatments to reduce the spasticity
in his lower extremities, not only did he eventually
learn to walk, but today is active in skiing, sailing
and horseback riding, and looks forward to taking up
snowboarding.
"I've achieved a lot more than my family and people
who knew me thought possible," McPhee said. "I'm
very happy to support the Shriners in the Shrine Bowl.
I feel as if I'm returning the favour after many years of
having received their support."
Tickets for the game are $10 and are available
at the www.montrealshrinebowl.comand at the
door on Saturday.
rphillips@montrealgazette.com
"I'm honoured and privileged to be part of this event.
It's an opportunity for Concordia and Bishop's to give Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/
back to the community," Chiu said. "Over the years, I've sports/Giving+back+community/3565515/story.
had many opportunities to do charity work in the community
html#ixzz10rCRU8Pm
and the one thing that's always stuck with me
MOCHA NEWS November 2010 Page 21