Ritchie Bros. hosts 5th annual Corporate Kids Challenge charity event for KidSport BC

For 20+ years KidSport has been helping underprivileged kids participate in organized sports, changing the lives of thousands of children across Canada, like Olympian Richard Hortness

VANCOUVER, Sept. 4, 2014 /CNW/ - Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE andTSX: RBA), the world's largest industrial auctioneer, will host its fifth annual Corporate Kids Challenge to benefit KidSport BC™ on Saturday, September 13, 2014. For more than 20 years, KidSport has been raising money to help underprivileged kids participate in organized sports; changing thousands of lives in the process. In 2013, KidSport provided funding for 6,700+ kids in B.C., a number they hope to top again this year with the help of Ritchie Bros. and other corporate sponsors involved in the Corporate Kids Challenge. The event features corporate teams facing off in old-school sports day type challenges and wraps up with an evening charity auction. Online bidding in the auction is open to the public—items include vacation packages, sports tickets and more. Members of the public can register to bid in the auction at www.rbauction.com.

"This is super fun event that has been getting better every year, but the most important thing about it is the number of kids it helps get back in the game," said Pete Quevillon, Director, KidSport BC™. "Over the past four years the Corporate Kids Challenge event has raised more than $1.8 million, including donations from the Province of B.C., which has made a huge difference in the lives of thousands of children. This is the single biggest fundraiser we have all year and Ritchie Bros. has been a great partner in putting it together."

The Corporate Kids Challenge teams up Olympic athletes and local celebrities with corporate teams from the Greater Vancouver area. Some of this year's participants include Tommy Europe, former CFL all-star and TV show host; Angus Reid, former CFL all-star and promotional speaker; Kelsey Serwa, Olympic freestyle skier and Sochi 2014 silver medalist; and John Herdman, coach of the Canadian women's national soccer team.

One of last year's attendees was Richard Hortness, a two-time Canadian Olympian in men's swimming and former recipient of KidSport funding.

"When I was younger and had just started swimming competitively and seeing some success, I was told by my parents we may not be able to afford it anymore. Thankfully we found KidSport and they were able to help me continue to do something I love," said Richard. "I attended the Ritchie Bros. Corporate Kids Challenge last year. It was a ton of fun, but it's more than that for me. This is chance for me to give back to an organization that has given me so much."

And it isn't just the children who benefit from KidSport, it also helps provide great relief for parents. Pamela Phillip is a Greater Vancouver resident who struggled financially as a young divorced mother. While raising her son Marc, who lives with Asperger's syndrome, Pamela worked full-time and still couldn't make ends meet. She was having a tough time but was too proud to admit it. She's still not sure how they knew about her struggles, but KidSport and a few others stepped up to help. KidSport got Marc a new bike and helmet.

"KidSport didn't want to just give Marc the bike, they wanted him to feel like he earned it, so when he was being awarded for something great he did in school they presented him the bike. He was so happy," said Pamela. "Marc wasn't a happy, smiley kid, but on that day he was smiling ear to ear and he just rode and rode. I was crying with happiness. People don't understand that when you are down on your luck and don't know how you are going to pay for food or fill the car with gas…you start to think nobody cares. That bike made me realize people care."

How can you help the Corporate Kids Challenge and KidSport?

• Make a donation - contact Megumi Mizuno at [email protected] or +1.778.331.5252
• Participate live in the online charity auction - it's free to register, visit www.rbauction.com for more info

Ritchie Bros. is the host and main sponsor of the Corporate Kids Challenge. Other sponsors include Hilton Vancouver Metrotown, Westminster Savings Credit Union, Ernst & Young, KPMG, PwC, Symantec, Heritage, Triple O's, Unity Telecom, WPCG Consulting, Bell, Samsung, ViaSport, Burnaby Firefighters, RBC Capital Markets, Raymond James Ltd. and more.

"Ritchie Bros. was founded in B.C. and, while we now have operations in 25 countries around the world, our roots are planted here, so we are very proud to support B.C. kids getting involved in sport," said Bob Armstrong, Chief Strategic Development Officer, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. "Sport is such an integral part of growing up. It helps build self-esteem and self-confidence and keeps our kids healthy."

For more information about the Corporate Kids Challenge visit www.rbauction.com/kidschallenge. For more info about KidSport visit http://www.kidsportcanada.ca/.

About Ritchie Bros.
Established in 1958, Ritchie Bros. (NYSE andTSX: RBA) is the world's largest seller of used equipment for the construction, transportation, agriculture, material handling, energy, mining, forestry, marine and other industries. Ritchie Bros. ^TM solutions make it easy for the world's builders to buy and sell equipment with confidence, including live unreserved public auctions with on-site and online bidding (rbauction.com), the EquipmentOne^TM secure online marketplace (EquipmentOne.com), a professional corporate asset management program, and a range of value-added services, including equipment financing for customers through Ritchie Bros. Financial Services (rbauctionfinance.com). Ritchie Bros. has operations in more than 25 countries, including 44 auction sites worldwide. Learn more at RitchieBros.com.

ATTENTION MEDIA: Photos and video are available for use at https://www.rbauction.com/kidschallenge. Members of the public and the media can follow KidSport BC on Twitter @KidSportBC.

SOURCE: Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers

Ian Malinski, Corporate Communications Lead, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers
Phone: [phone] | Email: [email protected]