NP –
Excerpts from The Globe and Mail (Aug. 9, 2007) by Beverley Smith
Canadian
pharmaceuticals magnate Eugene Melnyk is trying to make Olympic sport for
Canadians go right, by donating $1-million to a new Patrons of Sport program.
The billionaire owner of phar-maceutical giant Biovail is joining forces with
the Canadian Athletes Now (CAN) Fund, and asking Canadians to help join in -
even if they pledge only $10.
The CAN
Fund is led by Jane Roos, a former athlete who has been raising money for the
past 10 years for athletes.
After
the fund gained charitable status in 2003, it raised $2.2-million in six
months. The fund also aided 11 of
Melnyk
said he will meet with Senators executives next week to come up with a plan for
the campaign. “I’ve heard many gut-wrenching stories from athletes and their
families having to mortgage their homes and stay at youth hostels in order to
compete overseas, to asking their friends and family to finance their
training,” Melnyk said.
On
August 8, 38 athletes showed up at a news conference to stand behind Melnyk.
You didn’t have to look far to find disturbing stories. As for Melnyk, he says
he has something in common with these struggling athletes “We all believe in
the power of dreaming big.