For former NHL All-Star and six-time Stanley Cup Champion Mark Messier, the well-being and assured stability of those families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty is an important and essential concern. In 2008, Messier became involved with the New York Police & Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund, sitting on the Board of Directors and acting as a spokesperson for the charity. Since its 1985 inception, the fund has distributed over $123 million to the families of fallen fire fighters, police officers, emergency medical services and port authority officers.

Messier played a total of 10 years in New York serving two stints as Rangers captain and scored the famous game winning goal in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden which led them to their first Stanley Cup in 54 seasons. Number 11 quickly became the face of the Rangers franchise and served as a leader on and off the ice. His loyalty to his teammates was a testament to his love for the city of New York and has yet to fade in any extent even after seven years since he last dawned the Rangers sweater.

Messier recently announced that he would be participating in the ING New York City Marathon for charity. The marathon, which takes place November 6, is a 26-mile journey which Messier will be running for two charities; the Tomorrow Children’s Fund and the New York Police & Fire Widows’ and Children Fund. It has always been known throughout the hockey community that Messier has never been a runner, completing a 19-mile run during the height of his professional career. However, at age 50, the beloved former Ranger captain appears to be ready and committed to finish the marathon with strong ties to the charities he will be supporting.

Mark continues to sit on the Board of Directors for the Police and Fire Widows’ and Children Fund while serving as a special assistant to the Rangers’ President. He remains active within the hockey and social community in both Canada and the United States and is a true ambassador to the game and a servant to the countless families who have lost loved ones while serving to protect our safety.

To learn more about the Tomorrow Children’s Fund or the Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Fund, visit https://answerthecall.org/

Alongside the players and coaches will be children who were directly affected by the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2011. The children, who are all from the Garden of Dreams Foundation;  a non-profit charity that works closely with all areas of Madison Square Garden to make dreams come true for kids facing obstacles, are also travelling on the bus with the members of the Rangers organization to visit the New York City Fire Department houses and Tower 7. In the four years of its existence, Garden of Dreams has worked non-stop to fulfill its mission by creating unique and unforgettable events and activities which often include unprecedented access to MSG celebrities, events and venues and has helped change the lives of thousands and thousands of special children and their families.

In the recent years, over 145,000 tickets have been donated to organizations served by Garden of Dreams and more than 1,800 special events have been designed for children and their families. They have surprised children in the local children’s hospitals by getting different athletes to deliver toys to them collected through MSG Entertainment and NY Liberty toy drives and have helped plan trips to community based organizations to distribute coats donated during a Rangers coat drive. They also give them the opportunity to meet players and celebrities on Dream Suite Nights or at Rangers Skating Parties, on set at Fuse, or the once in a lifetime opportunity to perform on the Great Stage of Radio City Music Hall at the MSG Entertainment Talent Show. On top of all of this, the Foundation teams up with the Knicks, Rangers and Liberty to unveil newly refurbished spaces at partner organizations by virtue of its annual Room Refurbishment program.

Gardens of Dreams has assisted in making dreams come true for several children through their Make A Dream Come True program in which they have helped a child meet their hero and Rangers legend, Adam Graves, and helped another child meet the Radio City Rockettes. Although they only get to hang out with their heroes for a limited time, the memories and the experience is instilled for life. Their partnership with MSG and its employees gives the Foundation an opportunity to conduct a meaningful Adopt a Family program with Children’s Aid Society. This past holiday season, MSG employees “adopted” 135 families who were in need throughout New York City.

A day that will forever be remembered by those who were old enough to understand what was going on; the New York Rangers are doing a good job helping out the citizens of New York in a time where a little distraction and some space to breathe might be helpful. They are coming through for their people, just like those people come through for them night in and night out. They are remembering those who died and helped out on that day and let it be known that they will never forget them. The athletes that people see as heroes are doing the best that they can to put the spotlight on the real heroes of the city, the ones who look at fear directly in the face and don’t hesitate to keep moving forward to help out those in need. They did what they could to help out the city on that day and for that they will always be remembered. The New York Rangers organization are doing a classy and respectful thing by honouring the men and women who helped out or gave their lives in order to let someone else see another day. The real heroes will always be remembered and never forgotten.

To learn more about the Garden of Dreams Foundation, visit http://www.gardenofdreamsfoundation.org/