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Bauer's foundation to go it alone

Bombers cut ties with fundraiser

By: Geoff Kirbyson

Posted: 01/21/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

Lyle Bauer has left Winnipeg but will continue to operate the Never Alone Foundation he created to raise money for cancer-fighting agencies. (KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES)

The Never Alone Foundation will carry on after Lyle Bauer's resignation from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last month but it will do so without the ongoing support of the football club.

The foundation, which was created after Bauer, the 51-year-old former offensive lineman and team executive, was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2004, will remain based in Winnipeg. It will continue to hold events to raise money for cancer-fighting agencies and Bauer, its chairman, will carry on in his role and commute regularly from Calgary, where he was just hired as president and chief operating officer of the Stampeders.

"The idea is for the foundation to continue and run some other events. It's not called the Lyle Bauer Foundation. I certainly am going to be back to be involved in anything I can. (My family) still has great ties in Winnipeg and Manitoba. We have a home at Lake of the Woods and we have a strong relationship with the people at CancerCare (Manitoba)," he said.

"There are only two teams in the fight against cancer. One is the bad guys and the other one is the good guys, so we have to continue."

Bauer noted Never Alone handed over more than $35,000 to CancerCare just this week and plans to distribute another $50,000 in the not-too-distant future to other cancer agencies across the country.

But Darren Cameron, Bombers' director of media relations, confirmed that the team will no longer be affiliated with the foundation.

"We're working to ensure there's a smooth transition of all books and records belonging to the Never Alone Foundation," he said.

Bauer said it's too early to say if he'll be able to import the foundation to the Stampeders, as it's something that will have to be discussed with the boards of both parties.

"We'll take it one step at a time. There are events in the works in Winnipeg and other places. Maybe we'll be able to replicate some of those events in other centres, such as Calgary, that can be as beneficial to cancer service providers (there) as they are in Winnipeg," he said.

Cameron said there were times when Bombers' employees worked at various events in support of Never Alone but nobody complained about the extra duties.

"Everybody was more than happy to help the foundation and the events that came with it," he said.

With the recent turmoil surrounding former coach Mike Kelly's departure and the need to fill his role, as well as that of vice-president of football operations and president/chief executive officer, Cameron said it's too early to say if the football club will adopt a new charity.

geoff.kirbyson@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 21, 2010 A7

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