Sports

Giving is part of game plan for Argo Bradwell

PHOTO COURTESY ARGONAUTS.CA LEADING THE CHARGE: When Toronto Argonauts wide receiver Mike Bradwell isn’t hitting the field for the Double Blue, the Leaside High School alum is working with local charities to raise awareness of cancer.
PHOTO COURTESY ARGONAUTS.CA
LEADING THE CHARGE: When Toronto Argonauts wide receiver Mike Bradwell isn’t hitting the field for the Double Blue, the Leaside High School alum is working with local charities to raise awareness of cancer.

And his charity work sometimes involves sharks, heights and other daring feats

Toronto Argonaut Mike Bradwell avoided having to swim with the sharks, but it looks like the wide receiver still had to face one of his fears instead: acrophobia.

It’s early on May 22, and the Leaside High School alum is talking about the upcoming CFL season and his work with charity organizations.

His daring stunt to swim with the sharks was part of a planned public service announcement for the Canadian Cancer Foundation, part of the ongoing work he does with charities.

On May 22 it got switched to a CN Tower Edge Walk, to take place on May 28, thus playing on his fear of heights.

“It’s something very important for us to do, as professional athletes,” he said of his volunteer work. “We’re given a lot from
the community so it’s very important to give back whenever you can.”

A few years ago, Sharon Bradwell, unrelated, approached him to help out with the Sian Bradwell Fund For Children With Cancer, named for her daughter who was diagnosed with primitive neuroectodermal tumour, a form of cancer in her liver, spine and foot.

She succumbed to the disease in 1986.

“It’s just a great charity and it’s a good time,” Mike Bradwell said of the campaign, which included bowling and softball tournaments as part of the fundraising effort.

The last tournament, on April 6, pitted Hamilton Tiger-Cats players against the Argos in a bowling match. The fifth annual softball tournament for Toronto will be held Aug. 9.

As his volunteer work ramps up, so does the training for the upcoming season, which starts in pre-season form for the Argos on June 9 in Winnipeg.

With most of the offence back from last year and some new faces on defence, Bradwell says the Argos will have “a good squad” this year.

“We felt we should have been in the Grey Cup game last year and we definitely have that ability to get there,” he said.

Bradwell’s contract was renewed through 2015, and he celebrated by having a productive winter.

“It’s actually been one of my best off-seasons, training-wise, so I feel like I’m in pretty good shape and I’m looking forward to getting back on the field,” he said.

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