The Senators Alumni Challenge Wheelchair Relay

By Shauna Petrie

The Canadian Paraplegic Association’s Eastern Ontario chapter is excited to announce that they have joined forces with the Ottawa Senators Alumni and will be hosting the Senators’ Alumni Challenge Wheelchair Relay, June 1, 1996, during National Access Awareness Week.

The Canadian Paraplegic Association (CPA) is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary of working with people with mobility disabilities. CPA was founded in 1945 by Lt. John Counsell, a veteran injured in World War II. He and others like him, who were determined not to spend the rest of their lives in institutions, established CPA to support each other’s desire to live independently in the community. Their commitment to independence and advocacy remains the foundation of CPA Ontario today.

The Ottawa Senators Alumni Association is made up of locally based former NHL Hockey players. These players were all faced with new beginnings when their NHL careers came to an end. John Barrett, who used to play with the Detroit Red Wings and Washington Capitals, describes how he felt when an injury ended his professional hockey career: "You feel like there is a big vacuum when the game is over. You have to start life over again, learning a new set of skills and abilities."

Doug Smith is a former National Hockey League player who played with teams such as the LA Kings, Buffalo Sabres, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks and Pittsburgh Penguins. Now coach of the Ottawa Senators Alumni, he offers the following perspective: "Being actively
involved with both the Canadian Paraplegic Association and the Ottawa Senators Alumni Association has allowed me to see just how similar their mission statements are. In both organizations, the objectives are to educate, network and support individuals in transition. I really
see a fabulous future for organizations such as ours, and the growth potential is enhanced by partnering together for mutual benefit."

Bill Adair, Executive Director of CPA Ontario, expects that the exciting Senators’ Alumni Challenge Wheelchair Relay will provide his organization with a new and innovative way to accomplish its mission, which is to support people with mobility disabilities to reach their
potential and live independently in the community. "The pioneering work of the Eastern Ontario Chapter of CPA is being watched closely across the province, and we are anxious to replicate this event in communities across Ontario in years to come."

The Senators’ Alumni Challenge Wheelchair Relay was born as a result of the partnership established between the Canadian Paraplegic Association and the Senators Alumni Association. The event was inspired by a similar event that originated in 1988 in Calgary, Edmonton and
Lethbridge with Grande Prairie, Red Deer and Medicine Hat joining shortly thereafter. The event raised $250,000 last year, with over 15,000 participants, volunteers and spectators in attendance. CPA Ontario’s event will begin on a smaller scale, with enormous growth potential in the years to come.

Neil Pierce, Executive Director of CPA Alberta, is excited to see Ontario joining in the challenge and hopes to see other provinces get on board as well. "This event allows members of the general public to gain a firsthand experience in a wheelchair, and tends to result in their having a better understanding and appreciation of some of the abilities and challenges of wheelchair users."

Eric Boyd, Managing Director of the Canadian Paraplegic Association’s National Office, is totally supportive of this initiative. "I believe that the relay will provided the much-needed impetus for seeing this concept introduced from coast to coast."

The number of individuals who have been volunteering their time to achieve this event has been overwhelming. Both CPA members and other volunteers have rallied together to ensure that this event will be a true community success.

The response from the corporate community has also been encouraging. Says Brad Marsh, former NHL Hockey player, current Ottawa Senators Alumni member and co-owner of Marshy’s Restaurant, "This is an excellent event through which to give your organization positive
community exposure and a sense of team spirit while helping a good cause. The Ottawa Senators Alumni encourage the rest of the community to take the challenge, and come out and support the relay, June 1, 1996, at the Corel Centre."


SENATORS’ ALUMNI CHALLENGE WHEELCHAIR RELAY CONCEPT

- The Relay is a public education and awareness event bringing able-bodied individuals and individuals with disabilities together to work towards a common goal. In addition to raising money for CPA Ontario activities, it gives the general public an opportunity to develop a better
understanding of wheelchair usage.

- The relay teams consist of 8-10 members. Each team member will be wheeling around the course in a relay fashion, until all team members have completed the course. CPA Ontario provides the wheelchairs!

- Prior to the relay, team members will be soliciting pledges from corporations, families and friends to raise money for the CPA Ontario’s rehabilitation programs in the Ottawa-Carleton region.

- The Ottawa Senators Alumni association has compiled an enthusiastic relay team, led by Brad Marsh, and they are challenging all other Ottawa organizations to meet or surpass financial pledges collected by their team.

- Entertainment, music, celebrities, wheelchair activities, displays, children’s activities, and much more will create fun for everyone, as the event promotes corporate, family and community involvement.

(For more information regarding the Senators’ Alumni Challenge Wheelchair Relay, contact Shauna Petrie, President, Eastern Ontario Chapter, tel.: (613) 225-9419; fax: (613) 225-7704; e- mail: shauna_petrie@ocebe.edu.on.ca.)