Stampeders alumnus Vince Danielsen, Every Yard Counts player representative Brandon Smith and other current Stampeders players as well as members of the Outriders cheer team, Ralph the Dog and patients at the Alberta Children’s Hospital will help launch the 20th-anniversary edition of the Every Yard Counts program on Tuesday, June 28.

Every Yard Counts, presented by Shane Homes, features player visits to the Alberta Children’s Hospital the day before every home game throughout the course of the season.

“I’m proud to be back for a third season as the official player rep for Every Yard Counts,” said Smith. “This is a great program and the regular visits we make to the Alberta Children’s Hospital are very rewarding for myself and my teammates. It’s inspiring to meet these courageous young patients.”

The program also gives two patients from the hospital’s oncology unit the chance to attend a home game as personal guests of Danielsen, who played with the Stamps from 1994 to 2001 and won two Grey Cup rings. Danielsen started the program in 1997 because he himself is a childhood cancer survivor.

“It was a visit from BC Lions great Lui Passaglia during my battle with cancer as a kid that inspired the Every Yard Counts program,” said Danielsen. “It is a program that celebrates this special relationship between a child in need and a Stampeders player and, for the past 20 years, I have been so proud of all the Stampeders and the volunteers at the Alberta Children’s Hospital.”

“I love the Stamps and am so impressed with their loyal visits each year,” said Margaret Fullerton, Senior Operating Officer of the Alberta Children’s Hospital. “They make the children smile and never miss a visit before a home game.

Shane Homes donates 200 tickets to the hospital for patients to utilize as part of the program.

“Shane Homes is excited to partner with the Every Yard Counts program for a second year in a row,” said Shane Wenzel, president of Shane Homes. “This is a fantastic initiative which we hope helps bring a smile to young patients’ lives during a challenging time for them and their families. We are grateful to be a part of this program with the Stampeders and the Alberta Children’s Hospital.”

On Tuesday, the Stamps contingent will spend the afternoon with children from various areas of the hospital.

As part of the program, the Stamps donate 20 season tickets to the hospital for use by patients and their families.