Blue boss Bauer says foundation is ramping up

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This article was published 01/05/2009 (6304 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE reign of Lyle Bauer as the iconic head of the Winnipeg Football Club may be nearing an end, but the vehicle he started to help people with cancer is picking up speed.

"This wasn’t a couple-year investment or deal," said Bauer, who started the Never Alone Foundation in 2006 after his recovery from throat cancer.

"The foundation was created to be a long-term entity," Bauer said. The Never Alone luncheons, Never Alone socials and other fundraisers have raised almost $750,000 and "hundreds of thousands" of dollars have gone to CancerCare Manitoba, he said.

"It has grown leaps and bounds in both the number of events, type of events and the support we receive from donors, patrons and sponsors. It’s… 100 per cent volunteer-driven."

While it is a separate entity from the Bombers, football-club staff members are on the Never Alone board and many of its employees volunteer at Never Alone fundraising activities.

Now that the club is being sold to Winnipeg businessman David Asper, Bauer as president and chief executive officer has said he will eventually move on. Instead of winding down Never Alone, though, he said it is gearing up.

The foundation has applied to the Canada Revenue Agency for official foundation status, and is aiming for a more national profile. Without charitable or foundation status with the Canada Revenue Agency, the Never Alone Foundation cannot issue income tax receipts to donors.

And today, Lyle’s son Wes Bauer, 20, is launching a Chase the Cure cross-Canada bike ride to raise funds for Never Alone.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca