CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RKWAC Not Done Donating

Published on April 13, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


The RiverKings With A Cause fan club issued $3,500 in donations during the last game of the Mississippi RiverKings regular season in March, followed that with an additional donation of $625 at the end of the month and plans to make another large donation in May.

The first of these post-season donations was given to the family of RiverKings defenseman David Simoes . Simoes and wife Mary have faced hardship through the last several months when complications with Mary's pregnancy led to the early birth of daughter Lucia Elizabeth, born at 28 weeks gestation and weighing just over one pound.

RiverKings season ticket holder Bill Walkner purchased Simoes' game-worn jersey for $825 during a live auction at T.G.I. Friday's restaurant in Southaven, which also served as the season-long host of the Official RiverKings Post-Game Party after every home game. All the players, Head Coach Kevin "Killer" Kaminski, and many RiverKings fans and staff attended.

RiverKings Director of Business Operations Dave "Ab" Mattice promised that anything over $200 would be donated to the Simoes family through the RiverKings With A Cause fan club. At one point, Walkner was bidding against himself, as Coach Kaminski and the other fans egged him higher.

"It was awesome to see," Mattice said. "Everyone really got into the spirit of things. It was a humorous moment, but it was a touching one too. Little Luci's had a tough journey, and her story really touched a lot of fans."

RiverKings With A Cause is a fan-run, team-supervised charity club. It gives fans an opportunity to do volunteer work, supports the team's charitable initiatives, and invites the players to participate in community efforts.

The club championed four charities and causes throughout the 2009-10 season - Assists for Autism, Hockey for Humanity (Memphis Habitat for Humanity), Ronald McDonald House, and local breast cancer survivors and support - in addition to occasional projects such as helping the Simoes family.

Coming up in May, RiverKings With A Cause (RKWAC) members have a team in the DeSoto County Relay for Life overnight event at Snowden Grove May 21-22, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. benefiting the American Cancer Society . So far, RKWAC has raised $2,050 for their team through a jersey auction held February 14th, and is currently selling Boston Butts from Scotty's Smokehouse.

"We would love for people to come out and walk, or visit with us at the table, or donate their time or money," said Jill Proctor-Russell, a RiverKings season ticket holder, and recent breast cancer survivor. "This is a great way to participate in the life of a professional hockey team and also help cancer survivors of all kinds. I just love RiverKings With A Cause and the RiverKings organization because they are continually giving and helping the community in some way. They never falter."

The team is selling "luminaries" to raise money for Relay for Life. These candles will be placed along the walking track with the names of loved ones preceded by the words "In honor of" or "In memory of"persons who have survived or fought cancer.

Community members can also nominate survivors to participate in the Survivor Dinner and Honor Walk ceremony. To make a nomination or purchase a luminary or Boston Butt from RKWAC, call Proctor-Russell at 901.201.1911 or write mommiesmemories@yahoo.com . Deadline to purchase is May 15th.

To volunteer for the RKWAC Relay for Life team or get involved in some other way, please contact the Dori Jackson at 901.833.1475 or dhockeylove@att.net .

RiverKings season tickets are now on sale for the upcoming season, the 19th year of pro hockey in the Mid-South. For more information, call 662-342-1755 or go online to www.riverkings.com today!

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Central Hockey League Stories from April 13, 2010


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