Thanks, Marty

Some days it's really nice to know you live in a place where people care about the community – and it’s even nicer to know they don't want any credit for doing it.

Marty Lamarre is one of those people.

The affable broadcast veteran is the driving force behind the 94.7 HITS FM Media Hockey Marathon, and has been for the last five years. The tournament, which is quickly getting a spot reserved on my calendar every May, has raised $163,000 in its last four installments for the Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation, and he's gunning for $40,000 this time around – which would bring the five-year fundraising tally to a cool $200,000.

It's nice to know that somebody's got the LGH's back.

I help out, too. You know, by paying for parking when I go there.

All kidding aside, it's got to be comforting for West Islanders to know that a person like Marty Lamarre is out there, giving of his time, energy, heart and soul to help the hospital that helps us all whenever we need it – and in two languages to boot.

It's comforting to know that someone is helping out a hospital that serves people living from Lachine to the Ontario border, because the government sure isn't. The hospital is funded in order to service about 75,000 people every year, while its real service population is more like 130,000.

Not to mention the lack of chronic-care beds in West Island facilities, which force chronic-care patients into acute-care beds at Lakeshore, and creating a backlog in the ER.

The Lakeshore's ER serves more people than the Montreal General or the Royal Victoria hospitals.

Frankly, the West Island – and my family – needs someone like Marty Lamarre. We all need the example of someone who's willing to put the needs of others before themselves. Now, he doesn't do it alone; much credit must go to the dozens of smiling 94.7 HITS FM employees and volunteers who help out manning booths and handing out water bottles as well as doing a ton of work behind the scenes in the days leading up to the tournament.

But this is Marty's baby, and the hospital is thankful for it.

But don't take my word for it. Ask Lakeshore General Hospital executive director Silvana Orrino, who's got some words of her own for Marty Lamarre. "The foundation is very lucky to have someone like Marty Lamarre. The West Island is very lucky to have someone like Marty Lamarre.

The fifth annual Media Celebrity Hockey Marathon is slated for the Excellent Ice 3-on-3 rink in Kirkland Saturday from dawn to midnight. Three all-star teams featuring ex-NHL players and members of the Canadian women's Olympic team will also take to the ice at 5 p.m. All proceeds from the tournament benefit the Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation.

Stop in. Have a beer. You'll be glad you did.

For more information, call 514-428-9740.