Few are those who can unite 32 National Hockey League teams on both sides of the border amid their simmering on-ice rivalries and competing visions to get behind a singular cause.
But alumnus Mark Kirton, who already has moved mountains from his powerchair, with his computer and his powers of persuasion, has them on his side.
The common foe is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease — which 1,000 Canadians are diagnosed with each year and approximately 5,000 in the United States. The numbers are increasing and patients are getting younger, which is concerning to those in the research field.
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About 80% of those with the progressive nerve cell affliction will die in two to five years. But since ALS upended his world in 2018, Kirton is fighting a battle on behalf of fellow patients to cut red tape for access to new medication and get support for family caregivers.
His very public story and that of one-time Maple Leafs teammate Borje Salming’s rapid decline from ALS in 2022 got the attention of the league and of many sports-minded celebrities and politicians in Canada.
A Courage to Fight virtual concert on Dec. 5 featuring Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo and hosted by Hockey Night in Canada’s Ron MacLean raised $160,000 for the ALS Super Fund, part of $1.4 million over the past two years. It has since dispersed grants to help with projects in Quebec, Alberta and a new ALS research clinic in British Columbia.
Now comes Kirton and his advisory council’s most ambitious project, the virtual ALS Super Auction, between Feb. 6-20. Every NHL team is offering a package for bidding, centred around game tickets, meet-and-greets with VIPs, management and players, morning skate access, signed jerseys and meals with current and former stars.
“It’s a challenge when there’s so many people throughout the NHL,” Kirton said, getting in a chuckle beneath his bi-pap mask on a Zoom call. “But once you have the league office’s support, the teams tend to fall into line.
“Guys such as Colin Campbell (former league vice-president), Darryl Sittler (another Hall of Famer), Jeff Jackson (hockey operations boss of the Edmonton Oilers), Jimmy Rutherford in Vancouver, a guy I was once traded for, Michael Aundlauer (owner of the Ottawa Senators), Brendan Shanahan in Toronto, Cam Neely in Boston … they’ve all helped open doors for us.”
The coming 4 Nations Face-Off also is being tapped, with approval this week to use the 50-50 raffle proceeds from the games in Boston on Feb. 15 and the championship Feb. 20 going to the ALS Super Fund, then to the local Sean M. Healey Center for ALS study.
“The money is one thing, most of it goes into research, but the goal also relates to advocacy and awareness,” Kirton said. “ALS was a very unknown and under-funded cause for years. We hope the auction will bring it it to another level.”
Salming’s death, while heart-wrenching as his wife pleaded on social media to have Canadian meds allowed into Sweden in his final days with the great defenceman unable to speak, put a recognized face on ALS.
“It breaks my heart that anyone and their family should have to go through this,” Kirton told Postmedia at the time. “Such hopelessness and so hard to stay positive, even though there are some slow progression meds in the field.
“Make noise every time you hear the words ALS. Be loud and try to make a difference. Sooner or later, the more people know about this and then help will come all at once, like a cavalry, and our government will have to take notice.”
Salming was indeed “a turning point” Kirton says now.
“But the unfortunate thing about ALS is you need leaders that create momentum and in the (intervening two years since Salming’s passing) it can take a few steps back, such as what happened with the Bucket Challenge (a viral ice water ritual 10 years ago).
“We still need a better system to qualify for trials and promising drugs, faster pathways for drug approvals and more government covered hours for home care. More than anything, after 100 years, we need to focus on finding a cure.”
Many of the team packages included game tickets and dinner for up to four people, though the Bruins and Buffalo Sabres are offering a private suite for 18 with light food, beverages and a team-signed jersey for a starting bid of $3,500.00.
The Oilers are putting a different spin on it, offering four seats and a night at a hotel, with a chance to watch the post-game press conference for a $4,000 minimum.
The Canadiens are giving access to their alumni lounge, Pittsburgh to its TV booth. You can fist bump the Vegas Golden Knights as they come on the ice or have dinner with Sittler.
The NHL Alumni also are aboard, offering a chance to play or coach with them somewhere in Ontario at a charity game this winter, while the league is donating two seats to all games at the Montreal portion of the 4 Nations starting next week.
Among the players giving game-worn sweaters are Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin of the Penguins, and Brad Marchand of Boston with almost all teams giving signed sweaters of some type.
“The game-worn jerseys are exceptional pieces,” said Mike Wilson, whose business Ultimate Sports Appraiser, is evaluating the items for Kirton and bidders. “The meet and greets are dreams for fans, but the smart collector will use it to get a photo with a favourite player or players, or signatures on team apparel or sticks, anything to stamp the event as one of a kind.
“This is lots of cool memorabilia, direct from the player or team. There’s no downside for the winning bid, other than their favourite team might lose the game they see.”
Information at the auction can be found at www.alssuperfund.ca
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