Chatham-Kent's T.J. Brodie has returned to the municipality to meet his hometown fans, and also to support a good cause.
The Calgary Flames defenceman was at the Canadian Tire store on Grand Ave. Saturday morning to sign autographs for fans, and to raise money in support of Cystic Fibrosis Canada.
Brodie says the desire to help the charitable organization developed after seeing a family member struggle with the disease.
"My cousin has CF and growing up watching him go through that, it was always a goal to try to get to the level where I could contribute," he says. "Somehow I wanted to help him and help other people who are going through the same situation."
Around $650 was raised during the signing. The owner of the Chatham Canadian Tire location, Peter Marshall, intends to match the proceeds to bring the total to around $1,300.