PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Börje Salming fights against the terrible nerve disease ALS.
Now Swedish hockey is coming together to help and support the icon.
– We look forward to drawing attention to the research need for ALS and drawing attention to an individual whose efforts for Swedish ice hockey are unparalleled, says SHL CEO Jenny Silfverstrand in a press release.
He is one of Sweden’s most popular and successful athletes of all time. Right now, everyone is crossing their fingers for the icon Börje Salmings prosperous.
Salming’s struggle
It was in August that the news came that the Tre Kronor and NHL legend had suffered from the incurable nerve disease ALS. Already then, a foundation was started by Börje and his wife Pia Salming to raise money for ALS research, following a suggestion from a family friend.
– They were immediately positive about the idea. It then developed with being able to create a Family Center in the long run, something they both felt was lacking, says Karin Karlströmfounder of the Börje Salming ALS Foundation.
– Since that day, both Börje and Pia have been committed and involved with the start-up of this foundation, where now Börje’s daughter Teresa is also involved and involved in the foundation’s work. The aim is to contribute to research and education and to also be able to offer support to relatives.
Already when the news of the illness came last summer, Swedish hockey’s top leagues SHL, HockeyAllsvenskan and SDHL talked together about jointly helping Börje Salming’s foundation and collecting money for the all-important ALS research. They wanted to do something nice and important for the 71-year-old who meant so much to Swedish hockey over the years.
The support of the leagues
Now the leagues have decided to dedicate the entire round of 21 to Börje Salming, for the famous jersey number he wore during his career. Together, around the whole country, they will gather strength to bring in as much money as possible for the foundation in the hope of improving ALS research and helping vulnerable people who struggle just like Börje and his family.
– We had decided internally in the league to concede round 21 to Börje but wanted to do it together with the Salming family. I know Karin Karlström from before and it turned out that we wanted the same thing, so it was then possible to quickly get everything on track, which felt very positive, says Gabriel MonidelleCEO of HockeyAllsvenskan, in a press release.
As round 21 takes place during the last weekend in November for both HockeyAllsvenskan and SDHL, the major joint activities and fundraisers will take place during that weekend.
– We look forward to together with SDHL, HockeyAllsvenskan, Börje Salming’s foundation and the whole of hockey Sweden drawing attention to the research need for ALS and drawing attention to an individual whose efforts for Swedish ice hockey are unparalleled, says SHL’s CEO Jenny Silfverstrand in the press release.
– If you want to talk about individuals who have meant a lot to Swedish ice hockey, Börje is one of the very first, so it feels natural for us to support someone who has done so much for the sport we all love. We want to help spread the message about the need for research and encourage supporters to contribute money to the foundation in Börje’s name, says Angelica LindebergCommercial Director of SDHL.
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