Hockey Champs
Hockey fanatics live, eat and breathe hockey, especially during the National Hockey League playoffs. It is said that Spring can not officially begin until that sparkling silver cup weve come to know as Stanley has been kissed, hugged and raised in triumph by the champions.Earlier this year approximately one million fans lined the streets of the parade route to worship the 1997 Stanley Cup winners, the Detroit Red Wings. In a clean sweep against the Philidelphia Flyers the Red Wings ended their NHL championship drought that has plagued them since 1955.
It is the dream of most young hockey players (or even old for that matter), to one day play in the NHL. For some the dreams come true, for others they assume coaching roles from the comforts of the living room couch. Ian Strathern did not have a choice.
On January 27th 1995, at the age of 18, Ian was playing in a high school hockey tournament. A veteran player of twelve years he took to the ice ready to lead his team to victory. "I hit the end boards and instantly I knew that something was terribly wrong. I was lying there, unable to move anything below my neck" he writes. As a result of this check to the boards Ian is paralyzed and requires a ventilator to help him breathe. His medical situation is similar to that of Christopher Reeve, a.k.a. Superman.
Ian contacted the Foundation upon hearing of The Spark of Life Campaign to benefit the Neurosciences Centre located at the Western Divsion of The Toronto Hospital. This Campaign will benefit research projects to help find a cure for spinal cord injuries and other neurological diseases including Alzheimers and stroke. Ian has been working with his family, friends and TSN raising funds for the Spark of Life Campaign. If you would like to help individuals, like Ian, consider a gift to The Toronto Hospital Neurosciences Centre so that we can find the cure.