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Childhood cancer in the crosshairs at fundraising walk in Regina

Former Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker Dan Rashovich has hit a lot of things on the football field, but the one thing he’d like to hit most of all is childhood cancers.

Former Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker Dan Rashovich has hit a lot of things on the football field, but the one thing he’d like to hit most of all is childhood cancers.

He and some other Canadian Football League alumni have organized the Believe In the Gold event with the intention of helping youth with cancer.

“The big thing that got me into it was when I got a phone call from a friend here in Calgary, talking to me about what gold meant, and how much money goes to children’s cancers,” he said. “I didn’t know any of it, I didn’t know  that children’s cancer only gets four per cent of research money.”

This friend of his didn’t know Rashovich’s oldest son was diagnosed with leukemia.

“So I asked him, what do you want? What do you need? What do you want me to do?,” Rashovich said. “He said he needed someone to chair this event called Believe In the Gold and I said I’ll do it.”

Rider alumni have helped out by becoming community sponsors of the event, which is just in its second year.  There are events in Regina and Calgary this year, with Regina’s on Sept. 22 and Calgary’s taking place Sept. 29, with both runs getting sponsorship from Crescent Point.

“Part of my vision is that I’d love to see every CFL alumni across the league get involved and do something similar to this,” Rashovich said. “We’ve got a commitment from the Ticats in Hamilton, who are doing a flag football fundraiser for Believe in the Gold next year. Also the Stamps alumni are involved with the Calgary event here. Hopefully it’s going to happen. It would be great to see this go across the country.”

The second annual Believe In the Gold fundraiser will try to help families like the Payton Sernick’s family and donate to research as well.

“We helped about 17-18 families in Saskatchewan,” said Rashovich. “I met one of the famlies this weekend at the game and they were grateful. It’s nice to have something like this around.”

There are prizes for best gold costume and family activities for all ages.

More information is available on reunforchildhoodcancer.ca