The Scotiabank Baycrest Pro-Am announces Mike Modano, Adam Oates, Larry Murphy and Mike Gartner among the NHL alumni who will participate in the 2015 tournament

Funds raised through Canada's largest charity hockey tournament support Alzheimer's disease and related dementia care, research, innovation and education through Baycrest Health Sciences in Toronto.

TORONTO, March 24, 2015 /CNW/ - The Scotiabank Baycrest Pro-Am announced Mike Modano, Adam Oates, Larry Murphy and Mike Gartner will be among the line-up of NHL alumni including legendary Toronto Maple Leafs, Wendel Clark, Curtis Joseph, Darryl Sittler and Darcy Tucker, who will participate in the 10^th annual tournament in May. Funds raised through Canada's largest charity hockey tournament support Alzheimer's disease and related dementia care, research, innovation and education through Baycrest Health Sciences in Toronto.

"These five players have had successful careers, winning Stanley Cups along with being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, and we are honoured to have them join us for the 2015 Scotiabank Baycrest Pro-Am," said Garry Foster, President and CEO of Baycrest Foundation.

"In 2011, 14.9% of Canadians 65 and older were living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias and within a generation, the number of Canadians living with the disease will increase to roughly 1.4 million if nothing changes. Our mission is to enrich the quality of life of our community by supporting programs and services that promote excellence in care, research, education and innovation in the field of aging. Our world-leading efforts need ongoing funding to continue to make advancements in the way we diagnose, treat and provide care for those living with the disease around the world and we are grateful of those who are participating and raising the needed funds" Foster added.

In nine years, the Baycrest Pro-Am raised over $25 million for Baycrest Foundation and is Canada's largest charity hockey tournament. The team draft and round-robin tournament draws legendary NHL alumni along with hockey enthusiasts of all skill levels to play over two days each year in Toronto. 

"I am participating in the Pro-Am in memory of my grandparents who suffered from dementia and other brain related illnesses," said Joey Arfin, a nine-year participant of the tournament.

"This is much more than a hockey tournament for me. I know the importance of the funds raised through this event, which will support others coping with this awful disease. I am truly honoured to be part of the Pro-Am community and play alongside NHL greats with this shared vision in mind," Arfin added.

The 2015 Scotiabank Baycrest Pro-Am begins April 30, 2015 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre at the Gardens, with the top fundraising team receiving first overall pick of the alumni draft. The two-day tournament will be held May 1-2, 2015 at Scotiabank Pond (formerly Buckingham Arena) and participants will play three round-robin games, with the two highest fundraising teams battling for top honours in the Championship Game. 

"We invite everyone to join us for the 10^th annual event and encourage everyone to register today by visiting www.scotiabankproam.com or by calling [phone] or 1-844 GO PROAM," Foster added.

To register, donate or request information about the Scotiabank Baycrest Pro-Am visit www.scotiabankproam.com or call [phone], or 1-844 GO PROAM.

ABOUT BAYCREST FOUNDATION:
The Baycrest Foundation's mission is to enrich the quality of life of the community by supporting programs and services that promote excellence in care, research, education and innovation in the field of aging. The Foundation helps provide crucial funding to Baycrest Health Sciences to support areas such as: ongoing medical programs and services for seniors living in our community; innovative research into cognition, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, stroke and aging brain health; and local, national, and international education that supports healthy aging and healthcare solutions for a growing senior population. For more information visit www.baycrest.org.

ABOUT BAYCREST HEALTH SCIENCES:
Headquartered on a 22-acre campus and fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, Baycrest is unique in the world, combining a comprehensive system of care for aging adults, one of the world's top research institutes in cognitive neuroscience (the Rotman Research Institute), dedicated centres focused on mitigating the impact of age-related illness and impairment, and unmatched global knowledge exchange and commercialization capacity.  Baycrest was recently ranked by Accreditation Canada as among the top five per cent of healthcare organizations in Canada for delivering excellence in care, patient safety and corporate operations. For more information, visit baycrest.org.

SOURCE Scotiabank Baycrest Pro-Am

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