The Airdrie Regional Recreation Enhancement Society (ARRES) has officially announced plans for its next fundraiser.
The inaugural Winter Challenge, featuring the Calgary Flames alumni and local celebrities in a friendly hockey game, is set to take place on March 24 at the Rob Ebbesen Arena. Game time will be at 3 p.m.
ìIt was a couple of quick calls to ARRES committee members and the overwhelming response was ëletís do it,íî said ARRESí chairman Jack Lumley, adding the idea came from a discussion with local radio personality Rob Jamieson.
Both agreed Airdrie could put on an equally successful game, as a similar event in Crossfield last summer, and raise the much-needed funds for ARRES.
ìThe response from the community has been very positive with Airdrie Mayor Peter Brown and Mayor Nathan Anderson of Crossfield on board as well as many corporate partners,î Lumley said.
ìWe havenít stepped on the ice and the response from the Flames Alumni has been extremely positive,î Jamieson said. ìSeeing this event become a reality is exciting. This has been an amazing experience.î
Sixteen players from the Calgary Flames Alumni are already confirmed, including Sheldon Kennedy, Ron Stern, Dennis Polinich, goaltender Warren Skorodenski, as well as 1988 Olympic team member Tony Stiles.
Tickets are $10 each or $30 for a family (two adults and two children) and are available at Boston Pizza, Genesis Place and the office of Airdrie Minor Hockey.
A silent auction with hockey memorabilia and other great prizes will also take place at the game, while a VIP event with the Flames alumni will be held at Boston Pizza after the game. Tickets are $75 each and limited to 100 people.
ARRES is a non-profit organization raising funds for phase three of Genesis Place. Together with the Ice Users Alliance of Airdrie Minor Hockey, the Airdrie Skating Club and Airdrie Ringette, ARRES is trying to raise $4 million as the communityís share of the overall cost of $20 million.
To stay connected with the latest Winter Challenge news and updates you can link in through Twitter @arreschallenge and on Facebook. Sponsors or volunteers wishing to support the event can go to www.arres.ca or e-mail [email protected]
