Hockey Fights Cancer Coming To Chatham-Kent
There’s a long history of fighting in the game of hockey. Regardless of what side of that debate you fall on, the Canadian Cancer Society’s Chatham-Kent office is hoping players, coaches, league officials and anyone tied to the game in Chatham-Kent will consider lacing up their skates and dropping their gloves this fall as they kick off the 2019 Hockey Fights Cancer™ campaign.
Hockey Fights Cancer™ was founded in 1998 by the National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA). Since its inception, this initiative has resulted in donations of more than $20 million to support the cancer programs of local and national cancer research institutions, children’s hospitals, player charities, and local charities across Canada and the United States.
These events, which traditionally take place in the month of November, unite the hockey community in support of cancer patients and their families. Together, players, coaches, and all associated with the game look to inspire hope and courage for those who are living with, going through, and moving past any form of cancer.
Gerry Harvieux, the community fundraising specialist with the Canadian Cancer Society’s Chatham-Kent office, wants to encourage members of the local hockey community to get behind Hockey Fights Cancer™ like never before.
“I hope to see Hockey Fights Cancer™ in Chatham-Kent succeed at a level our entire community can be proud of – the fundraising equivalent of bringing home an OMHA championship title or the Schmalz Cup,” Harvieux said.
Essentially, individual Hockey Fights Cancer™ events are relatively autonomous for the teams involved. But Harvieux and CCS staff are available to provide any guidance the participants need. The initiative gets an assist from the entire hockey family, including players, coaches, officials, corporate partners and fans. Together, the hockey community wants to inspire hope and courage for those who are living with and moving past cancer.
“We have plenty of support materials and fundraising ideas to help ensure a team or league’s event will be successful,” Harvieux added.
“We provide the tools and assist in the promotion; your team or league provides the players and support volunteers.”
While the temperatures are still sweltering and frigid Saturday mornings at the arena still seem a long way off, it won’t be long before pre-season activities are well underway. So Harvieux has begun reaching out to the various minor hockey and junior hockey associations across Chatham-Kent, if not to secure a commitment, at least to plant the seed for consideration.
“The Canadian Cancer Society provides a host of services to cancer patients in Chatham-Kent and this is just another way for members of our community to show their support,” he concluded.
Anyone interested in finding out more about Hockey Fights Cancer™ can contact Harvieux at the local CCS office by calling 519-352-3960 ext. 3933 or be emailing him at gerry.harvieux@ontario.cancer.ca.