This year marks the 50th year SHAD’s R&R for the Kids has been in operation. This honourable charity has raised close to $6-million dollars for Muscular Dystrophy Canada. SHAD’s wants to reach and surpass the $6-million mark this year… and you can help! You and your company need to be on the course the second Thursday in June, ready for a great day of golf, fun, charity giving and the wonderful feel of doing something for those much less fortunate.

The Board of SHAD’s works very hard to get this event together year after year. It takes a lot of work and a fair amount of people to get this done. We spoke with three of the Board members who have been with SHAD’s for a number of years—Luc Champagne, Mike Fazackerley and Scott Stone to find out why they decided to join the board and why they have stayed for years as board members.

Autosphere asked them all the same question: “Why did you join the SHAD’s Board and why have you stayed with it for the length of time you have?”

Mike Fazackerley came back to us with these great words. “It’s now greater than 30 years back that I watched select members of my then management team head off to SHAD’s annually and I thought, ‘What a privilege that might be that I ever get invited!’ The thought of simply being in the company of so many well-known/respected Individuals in the same room at the same time was such a motivator! I wanted to be there! 

It probably wasn’t until my second event that those simple words, imparted originally by Fred Shaddick and relayed each and every year following, really sank in: “There are no stars in the room.” That’s when I really understood the purpose and mission of SHAD’s R&R For The Kids. 

“I’m not exactly sure how long I’ve been a SHAD’s Board member, but I do know that the same privilege I felt initially remains, only much stronger to this day. That a group of busy individuals—with many being fierce competitors for the other 364 days a year—might set all aside for a single and incredibly rewarding purpose is remarkable! And just know that SHAD’s participants past and present have had considerable, measurable and positive impact on the lives of those unfortunately afflicted with neuromuscular disorders. Kudos to you!

“As we ready for the 50th Anniversary of the SHAD’s R&R, and with expectation that we should meet $6M in cumulative donation this year, both I and my former Matthew Scott Marketing colleague and friend, Marilyn James, (who has also given so much to SHAD’s for so long) just knew it was the right time to step down and let the next generation guide SHAD’s through another incredible 50 years. 

That any industry charity golf tournament might continue stronger than before for 50 years is incredible and I’d dare to say, likely unheard of! 

From Marilyn and I, our most sincere appreciation is extended to you: past and present board members and every sponsor that has ever and continues to understand the real purpose of coming together as an Industry and giving to such a worthwhile cause as Muscular Dystrophy Canada.

To those that follow, we entrust to and count on you for at least another 50 more!

Luc Champagne is the only French-Canadian member of the Board of SHAD’s and considers it to be an extreme honour to be there and provide the support of his fellow Québecers for SHAD’s.  

‘I started my automotive aftermarket career 50 years ago… SHAD’s golf tournament was also in its first years, a vision of Fred Shaddick and his friends for MDA and the kids. During my first 20 years in the industry, I heard SHAD’s name a few times but like many of my French aftermarket colleagues, we did not know much about it.

“When my media business activities brought me to Toronto on a monthly basis, I realized and quickly understood the mission of SHAD’s having passionate volunteers working year after year to make this event better and better with significant donations to MDA.

“I was given a great privilege when John Vanstone asked me to be part of the SHAD’s team and help promote SHAD’s golf tournament throughout the automotive aftermarket media network in Canada.

“I was fortunate to have great support from Autosphere media plus all the other media people, and my sincere thanks to all of them—there is no competition when SHAD’s cause becomes a priority.

“I also had two other aims to achieve—create a friendly and efficient SHAD’s website and also get the Québec people to better realize what SHAD’s tournament was all about and the extraordinary achievements it produced.

“I cannot go without mentioning the incredible support of my dear friend and teammate, Shirley Brown. She was always around when I needed some help to get things done on time, she is my industry Icon.

“I am obviously sad to leave this unique volunteer group now, but the good news is that my working colleague, Lisa Marchese will take over my tasks. Lisa will certainly further help improve ways to keep highlighting the SHAD’s name and involvement within the industry and what SHAD’s means to Muscular Dystrophy Canada. See you in June!”

Next we turned to Scott Stone whose father, Greg Stone was involved with SHAD’s early in its startup. One of the first things Scott said was that he was honoured to be on the SHAD’s Board; that the whole SHAD’s concept is a legacy event for our industry and just to be associated with it was an honour. “I don’t find it anything but enjoyable!” Scott stated. “It’s an awesome event that has grown over the years and we need to find ways to keep it going. This is a milestone year for us. And some of the senior guys at SHAD’s have talked about the continuity of the event—what people get out of it, and try to make sure it’s an exciting and memorable day, it gets bigger and bigger and it’s so good to see this industry come together, it just renews your pride every year. 

“I think the message we’re most concerned about is keeping it going… the names change, the generations change, but I think there are really three things I would focus it on that I think is important for everyone to know about SHAD’s in the future is number one: the cause is worthy—we’re highly focused on a single charity… a very worthwhile one—MDA Canada. 

“This event has lasted for a long time which is incredible—50 years—amazing! And in my mind there are three things that are going to keep us going ahead as the names and faces change and as the baton gets passed to others. Those things in my mind are important and first is—the cause is worthy! We’ve come a long way with MDA—we’re their biggest annual one-day event contributor; it has made a huge impact on people’s lives especially those afflicted with Muscular Dystrophy. We think we’ve come a long way and we think there is a day when we can find a permanent solution to this disease—a cure! So that’s exciting!

The second thing I think that’s going to help keep this going is the philanthropy and the generosity of this industry. It just continues to amaze me, in fact it’s really overwhelming, how generous people are and continue to be for this cause. The companies that continue to support us and the individuals too! All the effort and energy that people bring to the event, all the volunteers… it’s just amazing. If we can keep that enthusiasm going and I believe we can, this thing will grow a lot of legs. Likely the last thing is the foundational piece that will also keep us going. I don’t think there is another country in the world that can do what this group of individuals has undertaken and done. I don’t think there is anywhere else in the world where there is an industry of competitors that has come together into a single place, from coast to coast, put down their competitive adversarial spirit and come together for a common cause, have fun doing it, it just speaks ‘Canadiana’ to me!

“In the circumstances we’re in right now in Canada, we’re really in focus and in my mind there is no other country in the world that can do what we are doing. We should be proud Canadians and continue to do that, act that way, rally the people around each other when there’s a time of need and support day after day and just focus for a few seconds on the higher purpose. Come together… it’s an emotional time right now for all of us. But this is Canada and this is what we do…it’s who we are, how we act, how we behave. It’s just a tremendous source of pride for me personally to be a part of it. To launch SHAD’s every year and look out over an audience of 300+ people all having a good time, enjoying being there… celebrating the night. And this happens every year on the second Thursday in June—it sure means a lot to me! I’m very proud of this event… it has gone from generation to generation. There are people who come to the tournament for the first time, they’re going to enjoy, going to come back year after year… it’s infectious. We need to pass this on because people need us and we need them too… we need each other. We’re very proud of it. And again, I think we’re the only country in the world where this is possible—that’s what Canada is! We need to pass this on.

“We’re bringing new and younger people in—they have a lot of energy, they have good ideas—we have a lot of faith in them, we believe they can carry the torch—they need to try it, be part of it, let them catch the enthusiasm and want to be more involved. It’s a great cause and a great day. I think no matter how much people put into it, they all say they get it all back… what more can you ask for! 

“I’m quite proud of being a part of it, remembering why we’re there, how we need each other, how we need to support MDA and let’s get this thing cured! It’s just meaning a lot to me and the other board members… so let’s all support SHAD’s on June 12th. Be there!