WEST VANCOUVER, March 25 /CNW/ - Vancouver Canucks forward Mason Raymond will blend two popular sports - hockey and running - when he 'drops the puck' in a ceremonial face-off with representatives of 28 local charities to launch this year's Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge and mark the countdown to the 12th Annual Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon & 5K on Sunday, June 27, 2010.

WHAT:     As Honorary Chair of the Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge,
              Mason will team up with representatives of the 28 official
              charities, local minor hockey players from the North Shore
              Winter Club and members of the community for a friendly pick-up
              road hockey game to encourage the public to 'run for the sake
              of others' at the Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon & 5K.

              Scotiabank will also host a charity BBQ to raise funds for all
              the official charities participating in this year's Charity
              Challenge.

    WHO:
              -  NHL player Mason Raymond, Vancouver Canucks forward
                 & Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge Honorary Chair
              -  Representatives for the 28 official Scotiabank Group Charity
                 Challenge charities
              -  North Shore Winter Club minor hockey team players
              -  Clifton Cunningham, Race Director, Scotiabank Vancouver Half
                 Marathon & 5K
              -  Rob Wilkins, Scotiabank District Vice President, Downtown
                 Vancouver and Northern B.C. District

    WHERE:    Scotiabank Park Royal
              955 Park Royal South, West Vancouver

    WHEN:     Monday, March 29, 2010
              2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
              -  2:00 p.m. - Remarks
              -  2:30 p.m. - Official 'puck drop' to kick off pick-up road
                 hockey game
              -  3:00 - 4:00 p.m. - Autograph signing with Mason Raymond

    WHY:      In its 11-year history, the Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon
              has raised $1.2 million for local charities. This year, the
              Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge expands to include a record
              28 community charities.