AGENCY ACKNOWLEDGES BATTLE OF THE BLADES GIFT

OTTAWA, Sept. 27 /CNW/ - The Men's Project, one of the few agencies in Canada and the only one in Ontario fully dedicated to providing mental health services for men who suffered sexual abuse as children, is grateful for being the chosen charity of Battle of the Blades contestants Theo Fleury and Jamie Salé.

"We are thankful for the generosity," says Rick Goodwin, Executive Director of The Men's Project. "The donation will help us to raise awareness of abuse through education and training."

Ex-NHL star Theo Fleury, whose sexual abuse as a young hockey player was made known in his best-selling autobiography Playing with Fire and Olympic gold medalist, figure skater Jamie Salé announced the gift last night (Sunday, September 26) during the first episode of the Battle of the Blades on CBC television.

"One in six males will be sexually victimized by the age of eighteen," says Mr. Goodwin. "There are many thousands of men in Canada who are hurting, but only a few of them ever come forward seeking help to deal with their abuse and better their lives."

The Battle of the Blades is an elimination format that airs Sunday and Monday at 8pm on CBC. Each week the eliminated skating pair receives $25,000 and donates the money to their favourite charity. The winning pair receives $100,000, which is also donated.

(Editor's Note: The Men's Project is an Ottawa-based not-for-profit men's  counselling agency providing services to men and their families since 1997.  It is the only centre of its kind funded by the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney  General. It provides mental health services for men who have suffered childhood  sexual and physical abuse.)

For further information:

Media Contact:  Rick Goodwin, MSW, RSW, Executive Director, The Men's Project.

Telephone: [phone], ext. 400

Cell phone: [phone]

Web site: www.themensproject.ca