LUI PUMPS RUN FOR COLON CANCER
The pool of celebrity fundraisers and supporters of colon cancer awareness in Canada just got deeper.
Lui Passaglia, pro football’s alltime leading scorer, is joining Hall of Fame hockey player Darryl Sittler, Olympic gold-medal kayaker Adam van Koeverden and four-time Grammy winner Anne Murray in targeting one of the most deadly forms of cancer through early screening.
After being diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer and going through surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and the accompanying fear that went with it, Passaglia said he wanted to use his influential voice — like the hockey player, the kayaker and the singer — as an awareness and research advocate.
“The fact I’ve been in the spotlight for many years (Passaglia played 25 seasons with the B.C. Lions), I’m used to it,” he told a news conference Wednesday at BC Place Stadium. “There’s a chance here that we can spread the word. This is one disease, if you can catch it early, something can be done about it. It’s preventable.”
The retired punter-kicker and Colon Cancer Canada executive director Amy Elmaleh announced details of Lui Passaglia’s Push For Your Tush Walk/ Run, a fundraiser to be held June 14 at Jericho Beach in Vancouver, starting at 9 a.m.
It’s one of 11 such walkrun events being held across Canada.
Elmaleh, a former producer with Citytv in Toronto, cofounded Colon Cancer Canada in 1994, the year her mother, Maureen, died of the disease at age 47. Coincidentally, that was the year Passaglia’s winning kick defeated the Baltimore Stallions 26-23 in the 82nd Grey Cup game.
In the same Lions locker-room, where he celebrated 21 years ago, Passaglia delivered a sobering and emotional message about his journey.
“I could be screaming from the rooftops about the need for screening, and no one would be listening,” Elmaleh said. “But when somebody like Lui stands up and says, ‘This happened to me,’ it really makes a difference.”
The 60-year-old Passaglia has another important diagnostic test in mid-May. Two others have gone well. He hopes to make it three.
“I’m in remission, cancer-free,” he said. “(But) you live day-today. That’s the way life is. As of now, I’m ready to go — and looking forward to June 14 and the Push For Your Tush.”
More details are available at pushforyourtush.ca.