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Wednesday, April 13, 2011

April 12




Again, another day with no birthday related items. Instead,as the playoffs approach

Fan participation encouraged in 2011 'Beard-a-thon'


A playoff beard is the superstitious practice of an NHL player not shaving his beard during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The player stops shaving when his team enters the playoffs and does not shave until his team is eliminated or wins the Stanley Cup.

This year, hockey fans across the United States are invited to join in a great hockey tradition and grow their own playoff beards during the 2011 Beard-a-thon. In addition to participating in a great hockey tradition, they will also be raising money for charities across the county.

In the past two seasons, over 15,000 fans have participated in the Beard-a-thon program, raising over $650,000 for local charities. This season, the goal is to raise $1 million dollars with twelve NHL clubs participating in the program. 

To participate in the Beard-a-thon, fans can simply log onto http://www.beardathon.com/ choose their favorite NHL team, and invite family, friends and business associates to pledge their playoff beards. By receiving pledges, participants promise not to shave until their team wins the Stanley Cup or is eliminated from the playoffs. Fans who are unwilling or unable to grow playoff beards, can also pledge their favorite player, other local celebrities, or build their own beard with the "Build-a-Beard" web application.

"The intensity, both on and off the ice, goes to a whole new level in the playoffs.  The Beard-a-thon gives fans a chance show their passion for the great game of hockey and raise money for charity," said John Cimperman, the Principal of Cenergy, a New York based sports marketing agency that developed the program.

This season's participating clubs are the defending Cup champs, Chicago Blackhawks,Boston Bruins, Buffalos Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers,Nashville Predators, New York Rangers,Pittsburgh Penguins,Phoenix Coyotes,Tampa Bay Lightning,San Jose Sharks,and the Washington Capitols.

NHLPA Beard-a-thon donations will go towards the placement of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in hockey rinks, schools and community centres in provinces across Canada. Heart and Stroke Foundation’s goal is to make Canada the most cardiac safe country in the world. Research shows that the use of an AED with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before the arrival of Emergency Services personnel can increase the chance of survival by up to 75 percent. It is estimated that the first three minutes are the most important when helping someone who is the victim of cardiac arrest.

For more information on the Beard-a-thon, log onto http://www.beardathon.com/
. All donations to Beard-a-thon are tax-deductible.

I'm working this week in downtown Toronto and at Union Station they were giving away this advertising card for this event. The people giving them away were wearing fake red beards that were probably 18" long.

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