Tips Raise 63K for DP Fund Raiser

[Tipped Off]

SILVERTIPS RAISE OVER $63,000 FOR DAVE PILAND FUNDRAISER
Big Thank You to the Fans and Community
Everett Silvertips Press Release




Everett, WA - The Everett Silvertips (Western Hockey League) are proud to announce that through the generosity of our fans and the community, the team has raised $63,584.53 over the past month to benefit the team's public address announcer, Dave Piland, who has been battling cancer all season.

Piland, who has been the team's public announcer since the team's inaugural season in 2003, has been waging a courageous battle against an aggressive malignant brain tumor since October 2005. After suffering headaches and losing his balance, he went to the doctor and was diagnosed with level 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Since his diagnosis, Dave and his wife have made daily trips to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for examinations and treatments.

Armed with his own strong faith, Dave has persevered. A father of four (Travis, 22; Greg, 19; Crissy, 10; and Katie, 8), he works as the manager of DeYoung's Farm and Garden in Woodinville, WA as much as his energy allows. He also coaches his daughters' basketball teams, as he did his sons'.

Prior to the Silvertips regular season home game on March 18th, the team presented Dave with a commemorative jersey. That night the team wore a set of the special jerseys that were then auctioned off following the game to help him with his medical expenses. Silvertips Assistant Captain, Cody Thoring presented him with a check, on behalf of his teammates, for $1,000.00.

The special jerseys were the first time that the team has worn a commemorative jersey in the three year history and each jersey had Dave's signature call "Let's Play Hockey" emblazoned on them. Immediately following the game each player autographed their jersey and they were auctioned off on the team's website (www.everettsilvertips.com). The team also created special jerseys for their full time staff members and coaching staff that were auctioned off as well. The week long auction generated $38,042.47 for Dave. The average price of the jerseys went for $884.71 with 14 jerseys going for more than $1,000 including the Peter Mueller jersey which went for $4,388.88.

"Like any other sports team, we believe that we have the best fans. The support that our fans have given Dave, Lisa and the rest of his family has been tremendous and overwhelming. As an organization when we sat down to discuss what we could do to help them in their time of need, we never imagined that we would be able to raise this much money is such a short period of time. It truly makes us speechless and we recognize that our fans are extremely special," stated Silvertips Director of Operations Zoran Rajcic.

Following the week long jersey auction the team also auctioned off 50+ items which were donated by fans who wanted to help Dave and his family. Items donated ranged from a 42" plasma television, to a vacation retreat, to various sports memorabilia items. All told, the items donated by our fans helped us raise an additional $13,318.06

Members of Dave's church also help raise money by creating a special wrist band that was sold at Silvertips games during the month of March to help raise money to cover some of the medical costs. Through the bracelets they were able to raise $8,108.00 with many fans donating more than the asking price for the bracelets. Several members of the Silvertips team also purchased the wrist bans and wore them during the games.

Furthermore Seattle Junior Hockey donated the proceeds ($775.00) of their 50/50 raffle from the March 31st game. The Seattle Thunderbirds, with whom Dave worked with prior to joining the Silvertips, donated $2,341.00

On behalf of the Piland Family and the entire organization the Silvertips would like to thank all of our fans who have given their support to help Dave beat his cancer.

[ihlemic10]

Good thing for Dave. I only wish that my wristband didn't break...

[Tipped Off]

Worthy of a standing ovation


By John Sleeper
Herald columnist


Whenever sport's rubbish makes me want to take up roofing (alas, a frequent occurrence with Barry Bonds, Terrell Owens and the latest felon of the week), I go out of my way to look for something positive.

And that's one reason I have to give a standing ovation to everyone who contributed even three cents to the $63,584.53 in the last month to Everett Silvertips PA announcer Dave Piland, who is battling brain cancer.

Dave and Lisa Piland have been getting through the family crisis through some pretty impressive Christian faith, but Christian faith doesn't pay the bills.

And the bills are enormous.

So, classy organization that it is, the local hockey team auctioned off jerseys, a vacation retreat, a 42-inch plasma TV, sports memorabilia, half a 50/50 raffle and other items. The Piland's church created a special wrist band sold during home games during March, which raised more than $8,100. Several Tips members bought them and wore them during games.

"We never imagined that we would be able to raise this much money in such a short period of time," Tips director of operations Zoran Rajcic said. "It truly makes us speechless and we recognize that our fans are extremely special."

And another standing 'O' goes to the Seattle Thunderbirds, who donated $2,341.

Just when you become fed up with what sports have become, something like this happens. We wrote of Piland's situation in December, which resulted in more than a little reaction. The brunt of those who wrote and called said the same thing: That the Pilands are among the finest people they know, and that their prayers and thoughts go out to them.

The day Dave Piland gets a clean bill of health, martinis are on me.

While we're on the subject of good dudes, a tip of the hat goes to Seahawks defensive end Bryce Fisher.

Fisher, an Air Force Academy grad, just closed out a two-week NFL-sanctioned tour of the Middle East, spending most of his time in Afghanistan. He, Falcons defensive lineman Patrick Kerney and Steelers offensive lineman Max Starks spent much of their time signing autographs and visiting with military personnel.

Fisher said in a conference call from Dubai that it was probably the best two weeks of his life.

Fisher's head isn't in the sand. He knows most Americans, according to the polls, are against U.S. military involvement in the area. He asks just one thing.

"Remember to separate the policy decision-makers from the people executing policy," he said. "Nobody in the service has any choice where they are sent fighting. But everybody has a right to disagree. That's why the troops are there, to preserve that right. And that's why I love being an American."

[nelson951]

Is there a cap on Cancer treatments? Nice

[Kristi]

Is there a cap on Cancer treatments? Nice

There is a lifetime benefit amount your insurance will pay. It usually is a million dollars. (sometimes it's more--depending on your insurance plan) But you can imagine that going to University Hospital everyday there is gas cost etc. And figure probably everytime he sees a doctor it's several hundred dollars so he could easily meet his lifetime maximum in no time.

[Tipped Off]

From personal family expereience, 1 million bucks for aggressive Cancer treatment is nothing. Radiation therapy, specialists, physical therapy, etc... all take a big chuck out of it and, as you stated Kristi, the driving costs, lost work time, etc...all factor in as well.