CHUVALO GETS TRIBUTE DINNER

Champ Lauded For Work With Kids On Drugs

George Chuvalo likes to say that he graduated from the school of hard
knocks with a BST: Blood, sweat and tears.

But the former Canadian heavyweight boxing champion admitted yesterday
that all his skills as one of this country's most accomplished
athletes never prepared him for the tragedy that drug abuse would
bring to his family.

Chuvalo lost three sons -- Jesse, George Jr., and Steven -- to the
ravages of heroin addiction.

If that weren't enough, his wife, Lynn, committed suicide after
Steven's death.

Now, after more than nine years of stumping across Canada preaching
his message on the horrors of drug addiction to school-aged children,
Chuvalo is to be honoured with a tribute dinner to recognize his work.

Younger than he looks

Looking 15 years younger than his 67 years, Chuvalo said he was
humbled at the thought of the elite of Canada's corporate and sports
worlds uniting to help him raise awareness of the ravages of substance
abuse.

"I fought 97 times as a professional against the toughest opponents in
the heavyweight division," Chuvalo said. "But none inflicted the kind
of pain that drugs did to me and my family."

The May 9 tribute dinner at the Toronto Convention Centre is expected
to raise more than $1 million so that Chuvalo's message can be
repeated over and over again.

Lisa Murray, executive director of Chuvalo's Fight Against Drugs
foundation, said yesterday that the fighter's effect on kids is
overwhelming.

Hear a pin drop

"We were at a school in Ottawa in front of a thousand high school
students and you could hear a pin drop when George spoke," Murray
said. "At one point during the presentation a student ran out of the
auditorium.

"He was found at his locker crying with a bag of pills in his hand. He
wanted out of the drug culture. That is what George can do."

Joining Chuvalo in his war on drugs are some formidable allies
including former opponents Mohammed Ali and George Foreman as well as
business and community heavyweights like Canadian Auto Workers boss
Buzz Hargrove, Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair and investment giant
Gerald Schwartz.

Chuvalo said if just one child is saved as a result of his work, then
it is worth every dime of the money to be raised.