Share:
Hockey Fights Cancer (HFC), a joint initiative between the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association, is celebrating its 20th year of uniting the hockey community to support cancer patients and their families.
Since 1998, the initiative has united players, coaches, officials, equipment managers, front office staff, corporate partners and fans. Together, the hockey family looks to inspire hope and courage for those who are living with, going through and moving past cancer.
As part of this year’s annual HFC Awareness Month, NHL and the NHLPA launched HFC Assist – a grassroots initiative that allows youth hockey teams across the country to join Hockey Fights Cancer . All teams that sign up will receive lavender tape and Hockey Fights Cancer helmet decals so they can conduct their own fundraising efforts. Teams can learn more at hockeyfightscancer.com.
Through The American Cancer Society (ACS), The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) and men’s health organization, Movember, donations to Hockey Fights Cancer support people affected by cancer, their families and caregivers. Some of the many ways they are making during the 2017-18 season include:
-
Lodging – Cancer patients and their families often need to travel long distances to seek specialized treatments that can take weeks or months. Fan donations to HFC help provide cancer patients and caregivers with a welcoming, caring place to stay when traveling away from home for necessary treatment in US and Canada. 2017-18 season donations are helping ACS provide over 5,000 nights of lodging for patients and their caregivers
-
Transportation – Getting to and from appointments is a source of stress for many patients. To help relieve this burden, donations allow ACS & CCS to provide over 15,000 rides to treatment for patients, free of charge
-
Round the Clock Support – Vital programs, such as 24/7 helplines with cancer information specialists, are designed to improve the quality of life and the emotional support needed for those affected by cancer, including patients, spouses, caregivers, parents and their children
-
Symptom Management Support – The support thus far has helped Movember provide free symptom management support before and after treatment to over 1,300 men with prostate cancer across US and Canada
Throughout November — Hockey Fights Cancer Month across the NHL — each of the 31 NHL Clubs are celebrating their own Hockey Fights Cancer Night. In addition to other HFC activations and messaging, these games feature lavender dasher boards and coaches and broadcasters will be wearing HFC ties. Players on the team celebrating their Hockey Fights Cancer Night will wear special Hockey Fights Cancer jerseys and use lavender stick tape during warmups.
An emotional highlight of this year’s campaign came as Brian Boyle of the New Jersey Devils had one of the best games of his 12-year NHL career, scoring three goals in their 5-1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Monday, November 5.
Boyle’s big game came on Pittsburgh’s Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night He was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia on Sept. 19, 2017; he told NHL.com on Oct. 24 that his cancer was in remission. He was originally told by doctors that it could take up to 18 months before the disease went into full remission; it actually took 12 months and 33 days.
“I love these nights. I really do,” Boyle said. “Sometimes you feel kind of alone. It can be a dark place at times during a cancer fight. …I think it’s important just to reach out and ask questions if you need the help. I was fortunate enough to be uplifted by all the people in here, my family. It [stinks], but I think there are enough good people in the world to kind of lift you up out of it.”
The NHL is a longtime Beyond Sport partner and a Founding Supporter of the annual Beyond Sport United conference.
Share:
