(June 3/08)
From the ecstatic euphoria of sipping champagne out of the Stanley Cup to the devastating news that his eight year old daughter, bitten by a spider, had contacted Lupus disease, Karim Chandani has dealt with his adversity in a most remarkable way thanks to golfers, celebrities and business associates coming together to make a difference. AUDIO Interview
On Friday June 6 at 6 PM at the Sutton Place Hotel in Vancouver the curtain will open for the official launch of the inaugural Celebs For Kids charity event, Greater Vancouver's premier celebrity charity golf and poker tournaments scheduled for August 14th and 15th.
The Celebs For Kids is the brain child of Karim Chandani who is fighting to save the life of his daughter and other children suffering from the incurably, sometimes fatal, Lupus disease.
Karim Chandani, smiling, hoists Lord Stanley's cup in a busy Anaheim dressing room in 2007.
NHL Hall of Fame Goaltender Grant Fuhr will host this year's inaugural Celebs for Kids events with more than fifty stars from the world of sports and entertainment participating.
Paul Nijjer, Director of Sales at Golf BC says, "Together with Grant Fuhr we're committed to creating a world class golf event that brings together many of the best celebrity players in golf."
"It's all about doing it right, and building an all-star event that works for the players, the fans and Vancouver," says Chandani, Founder of Celebs for Kids. "I'm excited to announce the Lupus and Arthritis Societies and their involvement as our official charity this year. It is especially significant because it's all about the kids and helping to find a cure."
BC Golf News learned that a special night was being planned for this coming Friday, that it involved golf and celebrities and Chandani, so we called the energetic Karim to find out what was being planned.
Josie Bradley, Vice President of the Lupus Society says Lupus is an acute chronic disease which can lead to organ failure and even death.
"The Lupus Society is thrilled to team up with Grant Fuhr and many local companies to help raise money and awareness for kids with lupus," said Josie Bradley, Vice President of the Lupus Society. Lupus is an acute chronic disease which can lead to organ failure and death.
"We're working hard to raise money to launch the first Pediatric Rheumatology Research Chair in Canada, right here in BC. This Chair will help to make life easier for kids living with arthritis or lupus, through the discovery of better treatments and eventually a cure," says Pamela Clarke, Vice President of Development for The Arthritis Society, BC & Yukon Division. "Supporting the Celebs for Kids fundraiser is just one of the many ways you can help to make a difference for children living with the chronic pain of arthritis or lupus." Visit www.celebsforkids.ca for more details.
Celebs For Kids has already announced its first celebrity player commitments-World Champion Donovan Bailey, Olympian, Bode Miller, Actors - Gregory Harrison, Alfonso Riberio, Richard Roundtree, Cheech Marin, Fred Williamson, Brian Baumgartner, Dennis Haysbert, Davon Gummersall, LaLaine, Bret Cullan, Chris Potter, Richard Kind, Nancy Cartwright, Gregory Itzin, Football- Seth Joyner, Dwight Clark, Marshal Falk, Roy Green, Thurman Thomas, Baseball - Vince Coleman, Chili Davis, Musicians - Adrian Young, Thomas McClary, and much, more. More than 50 stars from sports and entertainment are expected to compete in the 2008 event.
Since its inception, Chandani has had a goal to raise 3.5 million for the charities; currently he has raised 2.7 million and has attracted dozens of stars from entertainment and sports to help with this event.
Limited spots are available for the Celebs for Kids Charity Invitational on Friday, August 15th. Every foursome features celebrity spectator tickets, which will be announced in July. For VIP players spots in the charity event and sponsorships, please call 604-340-3035 or 778-233-2459
Perfect Lies Golf is the proud presenting sponsor for the Celebs for Kids Charity Invitational! (www.perfectlies.com)
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