A pub night in honour of Richmond native and former CFL player Bob Skemp raised over $11,000.
A packed Pioneer’s Pub last Saturday night featured numerous CFL alumni, family and friends to help Skemp with his medical costs required after back surgery went awry.
Skemp was a football and basketball standout at Richmond High in the early 1980s. He went on to spend a couple of seasons with the Richmond Raiders junior football program before being drafted by the B.C. Lions. Following a trade to Toronto, Skemp started at offensive guard for seven straight seasons, helping the Argos win the Grey Cup in 1991.
After his retirement, back problems resulted in a number of surgeries with the last one leaving him partially paralyzed. With medical expenses well beyond his coverage plan, a group of Skemp’s lifetime friends, including his former high school coach Jeff Lochbaum, Jim Mills, Bill Henry, Greg Ross and Julia Bouchard approached Pioneer Pub owner Ronnie Paterson who graciously offered his facilily for the fundraising event.
Longtime broadcaster John McKeachie acted as the Master of Ceremonies and kept the crowd well-entertained with a large repertoire of CFL stories and jokes.
During the special guest introductions the largest round of applause was saved for CFL Hall of Famer and B.C. Lions legend Lui Passaglia who also donated a signed jersey and a round of golf which were auctioned off.
“The night was a wonderful example of a community coming together and helping one of its own through some tough times,” said Lochbaum.
The organizing committee and Skemp family are very thankful to Ronnie Patterson and the Pioneer’s Pub staff, John Mckeachie, the many donors of prizes, as well as the former players, coaches, classmates and friends who showed up for the evening.
