Get ready to volley and smash the stigma of HIV/AIDS with Casey House!
Former and current athletes will gather on the court June 13 for rousing games of volleyball as part of the inaugural Set Smash Rally in support of Casey House’s HIV health care. This new local event is a high-energy, one-day indoor volleyball tournament at Kerr Hall Gymnasium, at TMU (Toronto Metropolitan University), where corporate teams celebrate their fundraising achievements by competing in short, action-packed games.
Each corporate sponsored team has a captain and six additional players. Morning and afternoon games are broken up with a hearty lunch and an engaging talk by Olympic champions Mark Tewksbury and the honourable Marnie McBean in conversation with Casey House chief medical officer Ed Kucharski.
Mark Tewksbury says, “I’m thrilled to be participating in the inaugural Set Smash Rally for Casey House as co-honorary chair with my fellow Olympian, the Honourable Marnie McBean. Casey House provides care and support for almost 1,000 clients every year, people in need of their stigma-free, compassionate approach. This tournament is an opportunity to celebrate fundraising through athletic play which, coming from sport, I love!”
Event co-chair Craig Lund is thrilled to be bringing this event to life since it’s conceptualization last summer. “Having already supported major fundraisers for Fife House & ACT’s Fashion Cares, I knew I wanted to support somehow. As a former National swimmer, the opportunity to help build out a new Peer to Peer fundraising model with an Olympic twist definitely caught my attention!”
Lund adds that the importance of Casey House is heightened with the closing of other institutions like ACT. “It’s been really exiting working with the Casey House staff and my committee peers to bring a very new concept to the Casey House fundraising program. Personally, being able to engage my childhood hero Mark Tewksbury as an honorary chair was an absolute highlight!”
Co-chair Gallant Law adds that after 10 to 15 years supporting Casey House, Set Smash Rally sets the hospital apart with this new event. “While I have been an active supporter of other HIV/AIDS organizations that provides a strategic national approach for research, education and preventative initiatives, Casey House provides the immediate humanity, healthcare and treatment for those living with HIV/AIDS. Launching a new format fundraiser provides a different opportunity to support the cause – setting us apart from the more traditional events, and hopefully engaging new supporters and participants (or re-engaging past ones). The fun has been in creating a new event from the ground up, helping to set the foundation on which Casey House can continue to build and grow for future years.”
Hillary LeBlanc
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