Former Vernon Vipers forward Aaron Volpatti has reached out to the ALS Society of BC about raising funds and awareness through his participation in a triathlon.
After four years at Brown University Volpatti signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks on March 22, 2010. Volpatti played parts of two and a half seasons with the Canucks before being claimed off waivers by the Washington Capitals on February 28th 2013. Volpatti played parts of five years in the NHL with the Capitals & Canucks before retiring in 2015. The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Revelstoke Grizzlies retired Volpatti's jersey #19 February 17 2018.
Volpatti played three seasons in Vernon (2003-2006) In 137 regular season games with the Vipers Volpatti collected (13-goals-24-assists-37-points).
Aaron Volpatti's Player Profile:
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NHLer takes fight to ALS
Darren Handschuh - Jun 28, 2019
Aaron Volpatti spent a good portion of his life fighting for the puck.
The former Vernon Viper went on to play for the Vancouver Canucks in the NHL before his retirement.
But now the Coldstream resident is fighting a different battle on behalf of his father.
“About four years ago, my dad joined me on the father/son road trip while I was playing professional hockey,” said Volpatti. “As we were boarding the plane for LA, my dad was having troubles lifting his suitcase into the overhead bin. We shared a laugh and attributed it to old age, but as the year went on things like this were happening more often. Ultimately he was diagnosed with ALS.”
Volpatti reached out to the ALS Society of BC about raising funds and awareness through his participation in a triathlon.
“As I was trying to create an event to support my dad and the ALS Society of BC, I was throwing the idea around to complete an Ironman triathlon,” he said. “Right away, people started asking me questions. ‘Can you swim?’ Not really, I sink like a rock. ‘Have you ever been on a road bike?’ Nope. ‘Do you run?’ No, I spent the first 30 years of my life on skates. As more and more people laughed and thought I was crazy, I thought this would be the perfect event. While the challenge will be nothing like my dad’s battle, it will be a great way to promote awareness.”
Volpatti, who was born in Revelstoke, will be competing in his first triathlon on July 28 in Whistler.
Since the beginning of the year, he has raised more than $17,000 for the ALS Society of BC and by event day, he hopes to raise $25,000.
“The ALS Society of BC has offered amazing support to my dad. This fundraising will continue to support ALS patients and their families, provide funds for services and research, and create public awareness of ALS,” said Volpatti.
Donations can be made online.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease, or motor neuron disease, is a disease that gradually paralyzes people because the brain is no longer able to communicate with the muscles of the body that we are typically able to move at will. Over time, as the muscles of the body break down, someone living with ALS will lose the ability to walk, talk, eat, swallow and eventually breathe.
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