Poverty Awareness in York Region

Lets put our kids back on the streets! Help save a great Canadian tradition- hug a stick!

The Friendly Neighbourhood Youth Road Hockey Challenge 2008 was greeted Fri and Saturday (Mar 14,15) past with spectacular weather and a great turnout. Hundreds of onlookers and youthful participants took in the 2 day event starting with Friday night’s Town Council Challenge which faced-off the Newmarket Mayor, Council, and “ringers” against the Super Cities MS Walk team.

With 9 teams from as far as Georgina, the Saturday main event youth tourney pitted mostly neighbourhood against neighbourhood in a friendly shinny clash to crown winners - splashed with comedy pay-by-play - and one youth chosen for the Mike Thornhill Friendship Award. The Newmarket Mayors Charity Golf Classic “pick-up game - free to all - was a big hit as well with parents and kids alike taking part.

The Magna “Mulock Hawks” won the consolation finals over Super Cities MS Walkers by a score of 13-7 while the P&C Compostech “Roywood Redmen” defeated the Newmarket Lions Club “Yo Mama’s” (from Yonge & Mulock) in a close final 7-6, to win the Mulock Cup.

Lester Sanchez, 17, of the Brayfield Bears, won the friendship award, a $1500 RESP sponsored by PACC, Young Drivers of Canada and the Roadhouse and Rose Funeral Home - with an excerpt of his nomination from the (Newmarket) Brayfield Community Association reading - “Lester has been a great asset to the community- he delivers all our flyers every week without fail and is there whenever needed. He has taken on a leadership role with the road hockey team and is an excellent role model working part time as well as continuing on with his education.”

The 4th annual challenge, which started off in a small mixed-income community, raised about $3,000 for the causes through sponsors and donations and is a tremendous community-nurturing event - in addition to a great tool to get youths active during march Break no less - that is already looking towards expanding next year.

Release by: TP Entertainment & Media