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GoFundMe page started for well-known Nelson hockey coach, community volunteer

Nelson Daily Staff
By Nelson Daily Staff
July 8th, 2020

A well-known hockey player, coach, volunteer, parent and all-round great guy needs support from the Nelson community as he battles cancer.

Rob Wright, who most recently spearheaded the development of the Nelson Tennis Club located above L.V. Rogers High School in Fairview, has been diagnosed with kidney cancer.

A GoFundMe page has been started to allow the community to donate funds to assist Wright and his wife Tammy, as Rob receives lengthy treatment outside the Heritage City.

“(Rob) and his family will face many extra medical and travel costs as Rob fights for his life,” the message on the GoFundMe page said.

“Rob would never ask for your help to offset these extra costs and so we are asking for him.”

Wright, unable to work during cancer treatment, has lived in Nelson all of his life.

His grew up at Six Mile and attended A.I. Collinson Elementary before completing his schooling at Trafalgar Junior High and L.V. Rogers Secondary.

Wright was an excellent hockey player, playing on numerous rep teams in Nelson Minor Hockey before heading off to play Junior A in the BC Junior Hockey League.

He returned to Nelson to suit of for the Nelson Maple Leafs of the Western International Junior Hockey League.

He coached in Nelson Minor hockey before joining with Ed Cooper as co-coaches for the Leafs in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.

The Leafs won back-to-back KIJHL title in 1992 and 1993.

Wright later coached the Nelson Blueliners Women’s Hockey team.

Wright is also known in the community as a tennis club volunteer, avid horseman, accomplished metal-worker and a man who is ridiculously generous with his time.

“His enthusiasm, humour and positive nature have inspired many people over the decades and he is always one of the first people to help others,” the GoFundMe post said.

“And now we’re asking you to help him and his family.”

The GoFundMe posted urges the community — friends he has helped, tennis players who now enjoy the courts he helped secure for the community, people who love his metalwork and have enjoyed his friendship and silly pranks and former hockey players Wright coached — to assist in curbing the financial strain of the cancer treatment.

“Every bit helps and we encourage you to share this message with anyone you know who has benefited from Rob’s volunteer and community work during his more than 60 years as a resident of Nelson,” the GoFundMe post said.

“We’ve got your back, Rob, because you have always had ours . . .. Now fight,” the GoFundMe post concluded.

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