Chilliwack Chiefs players and executives are encouraging their fans and Chilliwack residents to join them in supporting the efforts of the humanitarian coalition in delivering desperately needed aid to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan which has left thousands dead and hundreds of thousands homeless in the Philippine Islands.
Under a banner of “Chiefs to the Rescue,” the BCHL team players will man telephones in a four-hour telethon on Thursday, Nov. 21 – from 3 to 7 p.m. on the club’s home radio station 89.5 The Drive. Drive announcer Bobby Ferris will be broadcasting live from the Chiefs’ office at Prospera Centre as players take calls and pledges from Chilliwack residents.
The telethon is also being supported by the local Shaw television channel and network as well as by the city’s two newspapers, The Progress and The Times.
In addition to the telethon, the Chiefs will accept donations at their home games on Nov. 15, 16 and 23 – the final day of the fund-raising event.
All proceeds (any costs will be covered by the Chiefs and Prospera Centre) will be directed through the Humanitarian Coalition, a joint effort of CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Plan Canada and Save the Children Canada.
“When we see a city larger than Vancouver virtually wiped off the map and hear stories of desperation and pain like we have been witnessing on television over the past week – how can we not step up and do something to help?” said Chiefs’ president Glen Ringdal.
“Just as we care for personal crisis in our own community, we care for victims in far-off lands when tragedy of this magnitude occurs. We hope the efforts of our club and our media partners will provide caring Chilliwack people with an easy and direct way to show their compassion. Simply by clicking on the websites of the Chiefs or any of our media partners, our supporters will find a link to our group donor page - Chiefs to the Rescue. Donations will go directly to the Coalition and receipts issued immediately when requested for gifts of $10 or more,” he said.