Leafs coach teams up with Babsocks and Movember to raise mental health awareness
Posted October 16, 2017 1:29 pm.
Last Updated October 16, 2017 4:36 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock has been credited with an amazing feat — helping the once-dismal Buds bloom into a winning team. But he’s hoping what you pull over your feet will aid in an even bigger battle.
Babcock has teamed up with Babsocks, Movember, and the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) to raise money and awareness for youth mental health issues.
Special Movember Babsocks are now on sale online, and at a pop-up store at 588 Richmond Street West. A pair goes for $20 and $5 from the sale of every pair will go directly to the Movember Foundation to support mental health projects.
“You know how serious I take coaching, but you may not know I’m just as serious about supporting mental health,” the Leafs coach said in a YouTube video promoting the initiative. “That’s why I’m teaming up with the good folks at Babsocks and Movember to support mental health in an initiative called Ahead of the Game.”
Ahead of the Game raises money to support mental health programs for young athletes, and players from the GTHL will do their part by selling the Movember Babsocks.
“Canada is home to the world’s largest minor hockey league,” Movember said in a release. “This season, those 40,000 minor athletes in the Greater Toronto Hockey League will all engage in some friendly team competition off the ice using the limited edition Black Movember Babsocks as a fundraising tool to raise funds, raise awareness and prompt mental health conversations.”
And as loyal Leaf fans marvel at their team’s makeover, they’ll likely also notice a change in Babcock in the coming weeks. He’s committed to growing a Movember stache, channeling his inner Lanny McDonald for a good cause.
“When it comes to mental health we need everyone to be on the same team,” Babcock said.
The Babsocks will be on sale until the end of Movember. The pop-up store is open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
CityNews videographer Audra Brown got a sneak peek inside the Movember retail store. Watch below.
