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Poster Boy campaign marks decade of determination Regional cancer centre holds grand opening this Friday T | The KOOLâ€"EM Poster Boy campaign is celeâ€" brating 10 years of givâ€" ing back to the community this week with the Grand River Regional Cancer Cenâ€" tre grand opening highlightâ€" ing this year‘s fundraising drive that kicked off yesterâ€" day. And the focus should be on the people in the comâ€" munity who have made it happen year after year, said the face that goes up with the sign outside of Grand River Hospital, KOOLâ€"FM newsman Brian Bourke. There have been a few changes over the years since the Poster Boy campaign started in 1994 with mornâ€" ing man Neil Hedley climbâ€" ing up the sign for 23 days in support of the United Way of Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo and area. The face of the camâ€" paign changed in 1998 with Bourke taking over for Hedâ€" ley. And the focus shifted the following year with the camâ€" paign‘s proceeds going to support the building and And the focus shifted the ca;npaigln is no longer about ;upponing the cancer ceni "And that‘s the kind of _ kinks in his body when he "As long as people think following year with the camâ€" _ the stunt of a guy living on _ tre is something that a lot of thing we try to get through _ finally comes down, Bourke â€" this is worthwhile for the paign‘s proceeds going to _ top of the sign," said Bourke. _ people can understand. to people. Every dollar that _ said he‘s ready to do the _ community, I think it will go support the building and _ "That doesn‘t really matter "When we started out _ we get here is helping peoâ€" â€" campaign as long as the on." *Â¥ on I um a m m m Mr. History‘ Ellis Little made impression on local community any people knew Mhim by _ many names, but Mr. Hisâ€" tory is the one that will stick. Ellis Little was known for his devotion to the preservaâ€" tion of Waterloo‘s historical heritage. Little died on April 4 of congestive heart failure. But his legacy will live on in the research he loved and the people he inspired. "He could go to the library with a question and he could come out in a couâ€" ple hours with an answer to two or three other questions and more information on half a dozen other things," 533 King 5t N. Wateric« B85â€" 5091 awa brvolvorel BORKN IN SWEDEN. RA!SED IM CANADA. Bâ€"K VOLvO By Jason Miporton For The Chronicle By Bos Vrsanac Chronicle Staff CERTIFIED services of the new cancer centre. the tone of the camâ€" paign has also changed over the years. What started out as a radio stunt, in the grand old tradition of other radio stunts, h&lh hl‘(’(lll'le a fundraising force over the years, raising more than $1 milltion for the charities it has supported. "People used to do this all the time, but it was never for charity." said Bourke, about where the idea came from. "There was a big iniâ€" tial splash, then you wonâ€" dered how long it would last. "But 1 never did think we‘d still be going 10 years later." And one of the big reaâ€" sons that Bourke said he still makes the climb up the billâ€" board to brave seven days out in the elements is the grassroots support the camâ€" paign has received over the years. While there might be more formalized fundraisâ€" ing campaigns, there aren‘t too many that get people out of their passing cars to donate some spare change or inspire local schools or workplaces to take up the cause. "It‘s doesn‘t have to be 23 days anymore because the campaign is no longer about the stunt of a guy living on top of the sign," said Bourke. "That doesn‘t really matter said heritage enthusiast Bob Rowell. Last year Little became ill with a heart condition and a postâ€"operative infection that left him bedâ€"ridden at the Freeport Health Centre. In November 2003, the Waterloo Public Library named a research room in his honour. Little spent "We knew him at the library as Mr. Little..." â€" Janet Seally Waterloo Public Library anymore "This is a focal point for things that go on all year long." Now, in addition to the hermit on the hill. the camâ€" paign also features an aucâ€" tion and other special fundraisers like golf chalâ€" lenges. "Those things didn‘t exist before we started this," said Bourke. "The really imporâ€" tant change is that instead of this bringing in the money itself, this now inspires a lot of people to do a lot of good things throughâ€" out the year. And the people who have come out to support the campaign over the years and continue to do so are the biggest reason for the Poster Boy‘s sustained sucâ€" cess. "That‘s the biggest change." â€" "It‘s all about the cause," said Bourke, "It‘s really about the stories that come out of it and the inspiring things that have happened." Some of what inspires Bourke is the loss of his own two parents, Tom and Kathâ€" leen, to cancer. And with one in three people touched by cancer in their lifetime, Bourke said improving peoâ€" ple‘s chances of survival by supporting the cancer cenâ€" tre is something that a lot of people can understand. "When we started out countless hours helping out the library and doing research in its archives. The name of the room was changed to the Ellis Little Local History Room. "We knew him at the library as Mr. Little and he was one of our most popular visitors," said local history librarian fanet Seally. "On more than one occaâ€" sion 1 called Mr. Little at home to ask him about some historical detail that I could not locate and gave his home phone number to several researchers over the years because I knew he‘d be glad to help." Little was known for his Continued on page 4 Ellis Little, pictured with Janet Seally, had a close connection with the Waterloo Public â€" Library. The library recently named a room after the wellâ€"known local historian. PAGEF 3 here, the cancer centre was a hole in the ground. There was nothing there," said Bourke. "Slowly they‘ve built it up. "Now that it‘s built, we sometimes worry about losâ€" ing the focal point because the building is there, but there are so many other needs at that new facility. "And that‘s the kind of thing we try to get through to people. Every dollar that we get here is helping peoâ€" KOOLâ€"FM Poster Boy Brian Bourke took his post yesterday atop a billboard in front of Grand River Hospital. He will spend the next week camping out, while raising funds for the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre. ple who are here." It‘s even inspired Bourke. During his time as the Poster Boy he‘s given up smoking and started to watch his weight. And although there are a few more grey hairs in the mustache than when he started, and it takes two days to work out all the kinks in his body when he finally comes down, Bourke said he‘s ready to do the campaign as long as the community is willing to support it. "I still look at this as a really rare opportunity that few people get," said Bourke. "I get the chance to front a campaign that does some great things at this hospital, and I get to meet some great people. ©0b vRBSHAC PROTO