After touchdown in Boston Friday afternoon, Shawn Thornton went straight to City Hall Plaza to signal autographs for followers on the NHL Winter Classic fan pageant
Thornton’s hustle to the occasion is only a small signal that giving again to the group stays a ardour for the previous Bruins participant, who helped Boston win the Stanley Cup in 2011, its first in 39 years.
This 12 months will mark a decade since Thornton, now the chief income officer for the Florida Panthers, established the Shawn Thornton Foundation, which raises funds to assist discover cures for Parkinson’s and pediatric most cancers, causes he mentioned are “near and dear to his heart.”
“I can’t believe that it’s already been 10 years,” Thornton advised the Herald earlier than taking the stage to signal autographs. “I want it to last past whenever I’m here. I don’t think that’s realistic, but that’s my hope. People asked me when I retired what I wanted to be remembered for, and giving back was probably the most important thing to me.”
The basis has a workforce that runs within the Boston Marathon and the Falmouth Road Race. It additionally hosts an annual golf event at Ferncroft Country Club in Middleton. So far, not less than $610,500 has been raised for most cancers analysis and $485,000 for Parkinson’s analysis, based on the inspiration’s web site.
Caught abruptly that it’s been a decade for the reason that basis’s creation, Thornton mentioned he’ll begin fascinated by methods to honor the tenth anniversary.
“Every dollar counts,” he mentioned. “Some of the innovative research and development towards testing hard-to-find rare cancer in children has been really remarkable to see.”
As this weekend’s temperatures soared into the higher 50s, bringing a spring-like really feel to the air in Boston, Thornton mentioned the town nonetheless seems like house. He comes again to the realm not less than seven occasions a 12 months for numerous occasions and for household time.
Thornton mentioned he stays associates with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron, teammates on the 2011 championship workforce, as they chat about their households and what they’re as much as within the offseason. They attempt to not discuss what’s occurring on the ice.
Marchand and Bergeron have helped the Bruins get off to its finest begin in franchise historical past at 28-4-3, having but to lose a house recreation in regulation. Boston’s league-leading 59 factors is 23 greater than Florida’s 36.
“I’m fully rooting for the Panthers,” Thornton mentioned. “I’m fully ingrained in that organization, but with that being said, I am happy for Bergy and the success those guys are having.”
Thornton performed within the Winter Classic in 2010 at Fenway Park, the final time the NHL held its annual outside recreation within the hub. He referred to as it his fondest hockey reminiscence after profitable the Stanley Cup with Boston and in 2007 with Anaheim.
Thornton might be available for Monday’s tilt towards Pittsburgh along with his household.
“Sitting in Big Papi’s stall, walking out of that dugout, following Bobby Orr to the ice and just seeing the majestic Fenway from the middle of the field, staring up at all the fans in the stands, it was an amazing memory,” he mentioned.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”