Flyers take break from the ice, battle leukemia

by Megan Zustra copy editor

The 23rd annual Flyers' Wives Fight for Lives Carnival, held at the First Union Center1 raised money for cancer and blood diseases, especially leukemia, as well as over l 00 Delaware Valley charities. The Barry Ashbee Laboratories at the Institute for Cancer and Blood Diseases has, in the past, received a great deal of money from this event for research.

The Carnival took pace on Sunday, Feb. 7, 1999 at the Center, where the Philadelphia Flyers play National Hockey League games.

Chaired by Flyers' wives Trish Forbes, Diane Hextall and Rosalinde Vanbiesbrouck, the event proved to once again be quite a success.

Admission to the Carnival was $15. 1\vo sessions took place, so a ticket was either valid from noon to 3 p.m. or from 4 p.m. to 7p.m.

Another option for Carnival-goers was a photo opportunity with your favorite Flyer or Phantom. Reservations for photos with Flyers had to be made well in advance. Prices ranged from $15 to $35. A photo with team captain Eric Lindros was the most expensive at $35. All-star winger John LeClair's photo cost $25 and a photo with alternate captain Rod Brind' Amour was $15.

All Phantoms photos were only $10. With a photo ticket, a specific time to enter the line photo by Megan Zustra

Flyers goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck prepares to take a shot from a fan at the Flyers Wives Fight For Lives Carnival. was given.

Many players were just available for autographs. The charge per Flyer autograph was $3 and, for a Phantom's autograph, only $2.

Bobby Clarke, general manager of the Flyers and coaches, Bill Barber of the Phantoms and Roger Neilson of the Flyers were also available for autographs.

Down on the floor, many games and attractions could be found.

The longest line seemed to be drawn from the shot-on-goal. For $7 you could take a shot on Flyers goalies Ron Hextall and Phantoms goalie Jean-Marc Pelltier or Flyer John

Vanbiesbrouck and Phantoms goalie Brian Boucher. Vanbiesbrouck and Hextall were also available for photos at alternating times.

If you weren't up to the wait for the shoton goal, a shorter line could be found at the "test your slapshot" booth. For $5 you could find out how fast your slapshot is.

Other games included a spin-the-wheel game, balloon darts and a fishing for a prize bag game. Flyers' merchandise and apparel was the prize for all games.

The ultimate game occurred during the last half-hour of the event, when an auction took place.

Life-size cutouts of Lindros, LeClair, Brind' Amour, Eric Desjardins and Keith Jones, game-worn Lindros and LeC!air jerseys, a chance to be the stick boy for a game (for males over 18), a spot in the Flyers' team photo and large oil paintings of players, which were painted during the Carnival, were all auctioned off.

The items up for sale all raised at least $500 each.

1\vo raffles were also held to auction off large items for charity. The first raffle was for a Harley Davidson motorcycle. Chances for this cost $20. The second raffle cost a bit more, but the prize was also a bit more valuable. One-hundred dollars bought you the chance to win a 1999 Mercedes-Benz.

Overall, the event was truly a success. Although players are seen on national television all the time, Jones was especially im- pressed with being on the large screen that hangs in the middle of the Center.

"Can you believe I'm on the big TV?" Jones asked.

Lindros was also interviewed during his busy photo session.

"It's tons of fun and it for a good cause," said Lindros.

The Carnival raised $1.25 million this year, making its 23-year grand total $11.65 million.