Former Saskatchewan Roughrider and Alumni Dan Rashovich was in the Carlyle area Thursday to promote awareness and garner support for the Run and Walk for Childhood Cancer, taking place in Regina on September 22nd.

This is the second year in a row the event has been held in Saskatchewan, with an additional four in Calgary, and all proceeds are divided between the families of kids that are battling the illness, and research into a cure.

This year, several as-of-yet-unreleased local names will be among the recipients of the funds raised. The organizers want everyone to 'Believe In The Gold'.

"The event's like a mini-Disneyland in terms of all the things the children can do, bouncies, football and tattoos, we serve breakfast and lunch. There's candy stations along the walk for the kids," explained Rashovich.

"Basically half the money stays in Saskatchewan with Saskatchewan families for anything they need medically or transportation-wise, and the other half pretty much goes to children's cancer research directly, going to Dr. Mahoney in the University of Calgary."

Rashovich, as a member of Rider Alumni, chaired the event in it's inaugural year in 2017, and he is back at the helm again this year. 35-40 alumni participate in the walk/run, and hang out with the kids.

It also holds personal significance for the former CFL linebacker, who knows first hand what the families in such situations go through.

"For Alumni, children and families are kind of our number one focus. For me personally, when I got the call to chair this event, a friend of mine had no idea my own son was diagnosed with a form of lukemia."

He noted that a low percentage of funding is dedicated to research into children's cancer, and the opportunity to raise extra proceeds, all of which goes directly to the cause, inspired him.

"From what I know already, last year we helped about 17 families, which is great. And Dr. Mahoney, the researcher at the U of C, had some break throughs as well, so that's really encouraging."

Rashovich encouraged people in the southeast to register, dress up in gold, make the drive to Regina and help support the goal.