Marie Gadbois is an eighth grader at Trottier Middle School. As a child with Downs Syndrome, Marie has been “an inspiration to many” says her mother Karen.
One of those she has inspired is her father Charlie. For the past seven years, the Southborough resident has organized an annual benefit hockey game featuring Boston Bruins alumni. So far this year the event has raised nearly $50K for the Massachusetts Downs Syndrome Congress.
This year’s game takes place on Sunday at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, and the Gadbois family is inviting all their Southborough neighbors to attend.
Twenty-three players on the MDSC All Stars team, many of whom have loved ones with Down syndrome, will sharpen their skates to face-off against Bruins greats. It’s a wonderful family-friendly event with opportunities for you to meet and get autographs from the Bruins alumni players. In addition to the game, there will be a free skate, raffle prizes, and a silent auction filled with sports memorabilia, sports tickets, exciting experiences, and other great gifts for the holidays.
The free skate starts at 12:30 pm (rentals are available), and the game begins at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $10 each (kids 12 and under are free), and you can purchase them online or at the door. The New England Sports Center is located at 121 Donald Lynch Blvd. in Marlborough (map).
If you can’t make the game, you can still help with the fundraising effort. Southborough residents Paul Drepanos and Louis Sacco – who will be playing in Sunday’s game – have a fundraising page here.
(Image: Marie Gadbois dons a Bruins jersey with Paul Drepanos and Louis Sacco, contributed photo)
