Battling prostate cancer, Eskimos president helps launch fundraiser
Len Rhodes, president of the Edmonton Eskimos, who has been battling prostate cancer, announced Wednesday the team will be dedicating a home game to the Cross Cancer Institute’s 50th anniversary fundraising campaign.
The institute officially launched its Show the Love campaign Wednesday, which will run for the remainder of the year, with a goal of raising $5 million.
Rhodes, having undergone treatment at the institute, will be helping reach that goal by dedicating an Eskimos home game Oct. 13 to the cause.
Rhodes said he wants to bring a symbol of the institute to the game called the “hope bell.”
“When people have finished their treatments and they’re free of cancer, they get to ring the bell,” said Rhodes.
“I hope to be able to ring that bell one day, and in the meantime, I want to bring that bell as a symbol to our halftime show.”
Rhodes said his vision is for a sponsor to step forward and provide bells to as many spectators as possible to all ring together.
The team is setting aside a few thousand seats, which will go on sale May 1 for $46 each. Eight dollars from each ticket will go directly to the institute.
Salisbury Greenhouse, Kuhlmann’s Greenhouse and Greenland Garden Centre have also agreed to contribute to the worthy cause.
The campaign committee is also working with the restaurant industry and, according to co-chair Peter Wilkes, plans to dedicate a day in September for restaurants across Edmonton to donate a portion of their profits.
A $100,000 cheque MTE Logistix presented Wednesday was the real kick-start to the campaign, though.
“As a local business, we hope this will get many others to get behind the campaign,” said company CEO Dennis Nolin.
Wilkes said it’s not just corporations they want involved.
“It’s the lemonade stands at the end of your streets. It’s the bake sales your granddaughters or grandsons are going to be involved in if they want to raise some funds for this,” he said.
Donations can be made at the website Showthelovetoday.com or texted to CROSS at 41010, and collection boxes can also be found at all DynaLIFE locations.