An athlete we can all root for.

[Forkboy]

Renaissance Bruin

As an activist and adventurer, Ference leaves mark outside hockey



The off-ice résumé of Andrew Ference reads more like that of a good-will ambassador than a hockey player.

He initiated the NHL Players Association's Carbon Neutral Challenge, in which players offset travel by purchasing carbon credits. He is a spokesman for 350.org, a campaign committed to raising awareness about climate change (the name comes from 350 carbon dioxide parts per million, considered the ceiling of CO2 levels). He has been invited by Canada's New Democratic Party to speak at its summer convention about environmental issues. He has worked in the field for the humanitarian organization Right To Play.

All this has taken place because of Ference's profession.

"If I didn't play hockey, I'm just another person," said the 30-year-old Ference, an Edmonton native. "Hockey gives you the soapbox, especially up north. Any hockey player has the opportunity to represent something. It's a shame if you don't represent something productive."
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The summer after Ference launched the challenge, he made his first field visit for Right To Play. Steve Montador accompanied him to Tanzania, where they saw poverty like they had never witnessed. But they also recognized the hope they could impart to children.

"They get inspired because important athletes come to see them," said deputy director Mark Brender. "In turn, the athletes get inspired and see the impact of the program. Andrew did that. It was pretty special to see how Andrew and Steve jumped in and got involved, playing games with the children. We use games to teach children about malaria, HIV, cooperation, and how to use sport and play as tools to open up discussions on so many other topics. They allow children to express themselves and gain confidence. When he was there, he just jumped in with all his passion and gave it everything he had."

Zdeno Chara had been researching prospective charities. After learning about Ference's experience, Chara hooked on with Right To Play and visited Mozambique last summer. He then climbed Mount Kilimanjaro as a fund-raiser. At the All-Star Game, Chara earned $24,000 for Right To Play by winning the Hardest Shot competition.

"Zdeno really stepped up in a big way," Brender said. "He did it because he believed in Andrew."

http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/articles/2009/04/30/renaissance_bruin/?page=2

Totally aside from the coolness of the story, I need to get me one of those jerseys!

[joeybee12]

1. Good for him...

especially compared to some of the "heroes" some people admire, yeah, you know who I mean.

[mmonk]

2. Very good.

Kudos to Ference.