Russ Courtnall is no stranger to pressure, having played in the National Hockey League.

But his life has become a whirlwind of activity recently in the countdown to the third Courtnall Celebrity Classic fundraiser for mental health. The amount of time Russ and his brothers Geoff and Bruce have spent on the phone organizing the event is a sign the fundraiser is near and dear to their hearts.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 because itB次元官网网址檚 so personal with us, because of what happened to us,B次元官网网址� Russ said from his home in Los Angeles. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not just a golf tournament and itB次元官网网址檚 just not a dinner, itB次元官网网址檚 more than that.

B次元官网网址淲ith our dad committing suicide (in 1978), and being so young B次元官网网址� I was 13 B次元官网网址� unfortunately for us, itB次元官网网址檚 a big part of our lives, losing our father.B次元官网网址�

Previous Classics in 2003 and 2004 combined to raise $2 million to establish the Royal Jubilee HospitalB次元官网网址檚 Archie Courtnall Centre B次元官网网址� named for their father B次元官网网址� where people suffering mental health issues can receive emergency psychiatric care.

Since it opened, 20,000 people have been through the centre.

B次元官网网址淚 feel so good about it,B次元官网网址� Russ said. B次元官网网址淎nd some (who have received care there) are my friends, and some involved in the first two (fundraisers) have had family members go through (the centre).B次元官网网址�

This time around, Russ and Geoff, both former NHLers, and Bruce are looking to contribute to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation, which has a goal of raising $4 million to pay for mental health-care equipment and programs at the new RJH Patient Care Centre.

Thanks to the brothersB次元官网网址� passion and round-the-clock dedication, around 2,000 people will be in attendance at several events this weekend, including a gala dinner Friday night (July 22) and a golf tournament on Saturday (July 23).

Among the dozens of celebrities scheduled to attend include current NHLers Ryan OB次元官网网址橞yrne of Victoria (Colorado Avalanche), Central SaanichB次元官网网址檚 Jamie Benn (Dallas Stars), Vancouver Canucks centre Manny Malhotra, and L.A. Kings defenceman Willie Mitchell.

Several actors are also coming, including Candace Cameron Bure from Full House and Make It Or Break It B次元官网网址� sheB次元官网网址檒l be accompanying husband Valeri Bure, a retired NHL player B次元官网网址� X-Men: First Class actor Matthew Craven, Bold and the Beautiful TV star Jennifer Finnigan, Gena Lee Nolin from The Price is Right and Baywatch, and film actor Deborah Unger from Silent Hill,  Thirteen and Crash.

emccracken@vicnews.com