Some friends, including NHL alumni, are getting together to help others recover from trauma.
Theoren Fleury, an Olympic gold medallist and a Stanley Cup winner with the 1989 Calgary Flames, is hosting the Breaking Free Foundation golf tournament Aug. 19 at D’Arcy Ranch Golf Course.
The foundation’s goal is to provide survivors of traumatic life events with the treatment and support needed to reclaim their lives as well as paving the road for trauma healing and create valuable conversations about mental health, trauma and abuse.
It hopes to raise $25,000 at the tournament, enough to provide counselling for 33 people, based on a cost of $750 per client.
Fleury was a victim of sexual abuse from his former WHL coach Graham James. He would later have a public battle with drug and alcohol addictions.
The 455-goal scorer in the NHL is now putting his past behind him in an effort to help others.
He has been awarded the Canadian Humanitarian Award, The Queen’s Jubilee Medallion, he is an Honorary Chief and recipient of the Aboriginal Indspire Award. In 2014, Theo was awarded with an honorary doctorate in Science from University of Guelph-Humber for outstanding contributions to the Mental Health of Canadians.
Participants will have a chance to golf with celebrities, which will be auctioned off before the tournament.
Those celebrities include Lisa “Longball” Vlooswyk, a seven-time national long-drive champion and former PGA Tour Canada player, Todd Halpen.
Some of the celebrities with NHL connections include 2004 Flames’ defenceman Mike Commodore, who won the Cup with the 2006 Carolina Hurricanes. NHL lineman Mike Cvik; former NHLers Wayne McBean and Russ Romaniuk will also be at the tournament.
There will be a local flavour as Okotoks own Jim “Bearcat” Murray, a member of the NHL hall of fame, will be there. As will Okotoks’ Rob Tudor, who had a stint with the Canucks and the Blues.
The keynote speaker is Kim Barthel, a world-renowned teacher and therapist, most active in the fields of relational trauma and sensory processing. Her revolutionary process reinforces the importance of relationship in therapy; blending the art of intuitive inquiry with cutting edge developments in neuroscience.
She also co-authored Conversations With a Rattlesnake with Fleury.
For information on how to register go to breakingfreefoundation.ca
