Image: Joanne Hewitt, used with permission from Ian Parks / G.W. Graham linebacker Gavin Parks (#22, right) is pictured during a 2022 football game. Parks will be holding a wide receiver summer camp this Friday, July 21 at Townsend Park as a fundraiser for BC Transplant Society. Parks says his grandfather was an organ recipient, while his aunt was a live organ donor, and he figures that other members of his family may need an organ donation one day, as the motivation for holding this camp. His goal is to raise over $1,000, and raise awareness, about the need for organ donations.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Summer football receiving camp

G.W. Graham’s Gavin Parks, 16, holding football camp to benefit BC Transplant

Jul 17, 2023 | 8:07 AM

CHILLIWACK — The topic of organ donation resonates in a special way with G.W. Graham football player Gavin Parks.

The 16-year-old Grizzlies linebacker says his grandfather was an organ recipient, while his aunt was a live organ donor, and he figures that other members of his family may need an organ donation one day.

“I know because of genetics, that it’s likely that others in my family will likely need to be recipients as well,” said Parks, whose dad Ian is an assistant coach with the Grizzlies.

Parks, who will be a Grade 12 student this fall, is the driving force behind a summer football receiving camp that will benefit the BC Transplant Society. The football camp will be held this Friday, July 21 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Townsend Park in Chilliwack. Registration is $40 and includes a T-shirt and hot dog.

“My goal is to raise awareness and I want to use the skills and connections I’ve made in the community to make a collective donation on behalf of our Chilliwack football family to save even more lives,” said Parks. “What I’d really like to see is for this camp to motivate people to register as organ donors. It takes five minutes of your time and could potentially save a life.”

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All proceeds will benefit the BC Transplant Society. Parks’ goal is to raise over $1,000 for BC Transplant.

Players and coaches from the Valley Huskers, G.W. Graham Grizzlies, Sardis Secondary Falcons, and Chilliwack Giants are all slated to participate in the football camp this Friday.

To register for the camp, send the athlete’s name and year of birth to gavin_parks@shaw.ca.

To register as an organ donor in British Columbia, visit https://register.transplant.bc.ca.

by Mike Vanden Bosch

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G.W. Graham’s Gavin Parks, 16, holding football camp to benefit BC Transplant

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