By Debra Downey, Senior Editor

Marwan Hage, the hard-nosed Tiger-Cats centre with a heart of gold, will join Pigskin Pete at this year’s Routes Youth Centre fundraising dinner and silent auction.

Hage, well-known for his his volunteer work in the community, plans to attend the event, which will feature guest speaker Dan Black, the Tiger-Cats mascot since 2008.

As part of the evening’s activities, Black will share his compelling story of overcoming adversity. Black grew up “poor, poor, poor” in Hamilton’s tough north end.

After suffering horrific physical and sexual abuse, he entered the foster care system at the age of 11. Black spent the majority of his youth in a string of homes.

He graduated high school, attended college, married and had two daughters. But while Black pretended to the world that all was well, he was deeply troubled. It wasn’t until his early 30s that he sought professional help for a form of post-traumatic stress and trust issues.

The topic of Black’s presentation at the Routes Youth Centre dinner will be Be Yourself.

“Don’t be ashamed of who you are, learn from your mistakes and don’t be afraid to ask for help,” said Black of the message he hopes to convey to young people and supporters in attendance.

Routes is a drop-in and counselling program that provides intervention, education and prevention for marginalized and youth-at-risk in the community.

Tickets to the fundraising dinner and silent auction, Friday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m., Dundas Lions Memorial Community Centre, are $50. For more information, call Art at 905-627-4334.