The annual Raonic Race for Kids fundraiser was
held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on November 25. Hosted by Milos
Raonic and Tennis Canada the event raised $130,000 for The Milos Raonic
Foundation and Tennis Canada’s "Let's Make Tennis Matter for Kids"
campaign.
The Milos Raonic Foundation focuses on children
with physical disabilities and, especially, children in need of prosthetic
devices that will enable them to reach their full potential. Milos' charity
works in conjunction with the Holland Bloorview kids rehab hospital in Toronto. The Let’s Make Tennis Matter for Kids campaign supports programs
which gets children onto the courts and playing Kids Tennis. In Ontario community programs have been
launched in Mississauga, North York, Scarborough and Ottawa (Capital Kids).
Sixteen teams vied for the Raonic Cup by
participating in a series of fun, interactive, circuit-style challenges
alongside their celebrity honorary captains. The captains were Milos, Frank
Dancevic, Patrick Chan, George Stroumboulopoulos, Dwayne De Rosario, Carson
Arthur, Adriano Belli, Michael Boguski, Rob Faulds, Karl Hale, Curt Harnett,
Marnie McBean, Danielle Michaud, Kelly Murumets, Martin Reader,Tessa Virtue and
Scott Moir. The Master of Ceremonies for the event was TSN’s Cabbie Richards.
Sponsors included McRae Imaging, Pizzaville, Toronto Star, National Bank and
New Balance.
The OTA entered a team called the OTA Future
Stars, captained appropriately by ATP and Canadian Davis Cup tennis star, Frank
Dancevic of Niagara Falls, who developed his tennis in the OTA competitive system
A lot of photos the fun, OTA team action and videos of Milos
and others, have been posted on the OntarioTennisAssociation Facebook page, Check them out and like them!
Pictured here left
to right; The OTA Future Stars - Dave Gervan, Scott Fraser, Diane Kriksciunas,
(Patrick Chan), Kim Fraser, Milos Raonic, Dianne Weatherby, Michel Lecavalier, Jim
Boyce and Rob Nicholls.