Power of Pink Proves to be Great

On Sunday afternoon there was one clear winner at the Multiplex.
No it wasn?t the powerful Penticton Vees, but rather the Canadian Breast Cancer Society.
All night the Alberni Valley Bulldogs skated with pride around the ice in their bright pink jerseys. Their temporary uniforms were a symbol of the work they had put in over the past couple of months.
At the end of the game, the Bulldogs handed over their pink jerseys to the winners of their fundraising campaign, and passed $6,021 over to the Canadian Cancer Society members.
?I thought it was a great promotion,? explained Nolan Graham, coach and general manager of the Bulldogs. ?It was a fantastic result to make so much money in the first year.?
He said the support the campaign received was quite shocking, not only from the sponsoring businesses, but also from all the people who made $2 donations when they entered to win a pink jersey throughout the month leading up to the Oct. 25 game.
?I came out, at the end of the game, onto the ice to thank them,? he said. ?I always heard this was a tight community, but the passion and excitement around this fundraiser was great to see, and it was good to be a part of that.?
He said it was also an important experience for the young men on the hockey team. He said for many of them it was the first time they took a leadership role in the community.
?I think this kind of thing is important,? he said. ?We?re still dealing with mostly high school kids. This is the first time they got to do something in their community like this.?
He said the boys discovered the importance of their position in the community through this campaign. They realized that as role models and idols in the community they could make a big difference, Graham explained.
?The players loved it,? he said. ?It was a good learning experience to be part of something so important that helps so many people.?
Most of the jerseys were awarded on Sunday afternoon, but a few didn?t have sponsors. They will be raffled off in an online auction starting on Wednesday. For more information or to bid on one of the pink jerseys that are left, go to the Bulldogs website and follow the links.
The other successful part of the fundraiser was the pink T-shirts and scarves sold prior to Sunday?s game. The first of the T-shirts were sold by Bulldogs players at Boston Pizza on Oct. 16. Graham said they made 100 shirts, and that night they sold 74. They sold the remaining shirts at Tim Hortons the next week. Based on the success and popularity of these pink T-shirts, Graham said they are considering making them a regular item at their merchandise table. They may also make the pink scarves available for at least a few more weeks as well.
If you miss out on a jersey this year, don?t fret, there may be more next season following the success of the campaign this year.
HThomson@avtimes.net