Stampeders team up with five-year-old War Amps "Champ" to pass on PLAYSAFE message

OTTAWA, Oct. 7, 2013 /CNW/ - Having lost his left leg in a lawnmower accident, Roan Heck, 5, of Stettler, AB, is well qualified to alert other children to the importance of being safe at play. This past summer, Roan, who has been named The War Amps National Safety Ambassador, joined Calgary Stampeders Brandon Smith (left) and Keon Raymond (right) to film a new War Amps PLAYSAFE public service announcement. The PSA will begin airing the Friday of the Thanksgiving weekend during TSN football telecasts and will continue through the CFL® Playoffs and the Grey Cup®.

For more than 30 years, The War Amps and the Canadian Football League have shared a special tradition - the annual CFL PLAYSAFE PSA, saluting the League's support of The War Amps kids-to-kids safety program. The connection goes back to the days when the late Karl Hilzinger was The War Amps CHAMP Sports Consultant. "Karlo" was a CFL all-star who played for the Ottawa Rough Riders in the '50s. A car accident left him a double-leg amputee. He became an inspiration to Champs and was well-known as the silver-suited skier in War Amps public service announcements. The War Amps and the CFL have been working together ever since to increase awareness of The War Amps PLAYSAFE Program.

Image with caption: "Roan Heck, War Amps National Safety Ambassador, joined Calgary Stampeders Brandon Smith (left) and Keon Raymond (right) to film a new War Amps PLAYSAFE public service announcement (CNW Group/War Amps)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131007_C7789_PHOTO_EN_31765.jpg

SOURCE: War Amps

or to interview Roan and his family, contact Communications at 1 877 60MEDIA or [email protected]; for the Calgary Stampeders, Jean Lefebvre at 403 289-0205.