Annual Friday Night Lights Fundraiser For Suicide Awareness Running for a Touchdown

The ninth annual “Friday Night Lights” football fundraiser for suicide awareness with Team55 will take the spotlight at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School on Friday.

Photo Courtesy of Team55.

The “Let’s Tackle Suicide Awareness” campaign will feature a double-header of football games with opening ceremonies beginning at 6:00 p.m. and girls’ rugby games in the afternoon.

• 7:00 p.m. - Adam Scott Collegiate and Vocational Institute vs. Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School

• 9:00 p.m. Holy Cross Secondary School vs Crestwood Secondary School

The games will be broadcasted by YourTV Cogeco where spectators will be tightly limited to avoid large gatherings.

This year’s slogan is “What do you do for you?” to encourage mental health, especially among youth.

Last year’s message was, “Who would you talk to in your time of crisis?” Photo Courtesy of Team55.

Team55 was founded by Dave Pogue, Peterborough Petes president, after losing his son Mitchell to suicide. The number 55 was the latter’s jersey number when he played football for the Adam Scott Collegiate.

The game was cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic however the fundraising efforts were still made.

“We’re thrilled to have the live football back, no questions,” said Pogue Mainly for the kids that missed out on participating in sports.”

A goal of $15,000 has been set for the event. Last year raised just under $25,000 with over $17,000 raised in the silent auction alone.

Fundraising efforts are through donations online, their Facebook page “Team55 Tackles Suicide Awareness” or sending a cheque to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) offices at 415 Water St.

An online silent auction will run until Saturday evening with over 110 donated products. Big-ticket items include Blue Jays tickets, a Carrie Underwood-autographed acoustic guitar, Petes Centre Ice Suite tickets and more.

“Local businesses and people who are interested have donated these items,” said Pogue. “They just keep coming back to help. There’s a real camaraderie behind this community to help in mental health.”

Proceeds go to the CMHA’s Assertive Outreach Suicide Prevention (AOSP) program that seeks help and resources for attempted suicide victims.

Tara Slone, Juno nominee and Canadian Football League alumnus and Peterborough’s Brad Sinopoli will guest star in the games’ opening ceremonies.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Neil Sanderson Of Three Days Grace Special Guest Speaker At Team 55's 6th Annual Friday Night Lights

On September 21st, all of Peterborough and beyond is invited to Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School for the annual Friday Night Lights, a Team 55 event supporting suicide prevention through the Canadian Mental Health Association, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge. 

While the event has drawn big crowds in the past, organizers hope this year will be even bigger as they embrace the opportunity to showcase the community’s passion for suicide awareness and mental health to the Parliamentary Assistant to Ontario’s Minister of Health, who is expected to be in attendance.

From left to right: Dave Pogue from Team 55, Jack Veitch from CMHA and Jeff Challice from TASSS.

“We really need to get as many people to TASSS on Friday night as possible—we want to pack the place,” says Dave Pogue, founder of Team 55: Let’s Tackle Suicide Awareness.

At the opening ceremonies, this year’s special guest will be speaker Neil Sanderson of Three Days Grace. The Canadian band, including the Adam Scott alumnus, is about to embark on a European tour before returning for a Canadian tour in late November.

Friday Night Lights begins September 21st at noon with games and a barbeque, and the Open Ceremonies start at 6 p.m. The main event kick-off is at 7 p.m.

For more on Friday Night Lights and Team 55, watch this recent interview we conducted with Dave Pogue on PTBOCanada show…

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here. Watch our PTBOCanada Love video here.

Watch: Dave Pogue On Team 55, Mental Health, Peterborough Petes & Community

On Episode 23 of our show PTBOCanada, Dave Pogue talks about the impact Team 55: Let's Tackle Suicide Awareness is having in raising awareness and funds around mental health programs.

Dave Pogue on "PTBOCanada" show

Dave's son Mitchell took his own life in 2013, and shortly thereafter he decided to start the Team 55 program after approaching the Canadian Mental Health Association local chapter. He had no idea at the time the impact it would have, as the program is going stronger than ever since its inception more than five years ago.

Watch the episode below as Pogue—also President of the Peterborough Petes—talks about Team 55, Friday Night Lights, the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Petes and community love...

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here. Watch our PTBOCanada Love video here.