Gordie Howe C.A.R.E.S. Pro-Am Hockey Tournament Raises Over $250,000

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - May 5, 2016) - The 2016 Gordie Howe C.A.R.E.S. Pro-Am Hockey Tournament held in Calgary raised over $250,000 raising the total over the past five years to over $1million that will support the Gordie Howe Centre for Alzheimer's Research and Education Society. This world-class event took place April 15 to 17 at Winsport Arena and brought together local amateur hockey players and notable NHL Alumni. Proceeds raised benefitted the Gordie Howe C.A.R.E.S. Center for Alzheimer's Research and Education Society to be located in the brand new Fish Creek Park Manor Village located in SE Calgary, opening in 2018.

The two-day tournament saw hockey enthusiasts play alongside NHL legends in a fun filled weekend while raising much needed funds and awareness for Alzheimer's and dementia related illnesses.

"This certainly has been a tumultuous and interesting 2016 in terms of our economic engines, political unrest and over all well-being for Albertans. As we all learn to understand and deal with what may very well be the new normal, the challenges for not-for-profits and key societal issues are only going to become that much more of a concern, creating tremendous pressures on the charities ability to operate, as well as the fundraisers, donators and sponsors. We are thrilled not only to host another successful tournament in times like these, but also be able to contribute over $250,000 in this economy", said Allan Klassen, Senior Vice President, Calgary Housing, Brookfield Residential, and Executive Chair of the hockey tournament and chair of the GH CARES Society.

"We could not be more grateful and proud to contribute to the fight against these debilitating illnesses."

One of the fastest growing diseases in terms of impact is of course all forms of Dementia, like Alzheimer's that is unfortunately impacting more and more of our community each year, on pace to be somewhat of a pandemic. With over 45,000 Albertans today (that we are aware of), are living with some form of Alzheimer's or dementia, this number will sky rocket to over 100,000 in next 15 years at a cost of over $75 billion dollars to Albertans. If you do not know somebody today that is dealing with this dreaded disease, I assure you, unfortunately, you will very soon.

For more information about the Gordie Howe C.A.R.E.S. Pro-Am Hockey Tournament and the full list of participating NHL Alumni, please visit http://www.gordiehowecaresproam.com