Anaheim Ducks raise money for Cancer Fight during game night against Dallas Stars
The Anaheim Ducks’ game against Dallas Stars on Friday will also be a ‘Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness’ night at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, United States.
This year, Ducks have partnered with the Orange County chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). The LLS has sought to cure Leukemia, Lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and Myeloma.
The Ducks’ game plan was part of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) month-long initiative for raising money for different charitable organisations fighting cancer.
At the event, Sara Blake, the wife of Ducks’ cancer survivor, Jason Blake, took up to sell “Wrap and Remember” bracelets to generate money for the cancer disease. A portion of the proceedings from the Ducks’ game went to the Orange County’s Inland Empire chapter of the LLC.
The funds generated through the event for the LLS go towards blood cancer research around the world, providing free information and support services to victims and their families.
Anaheim players displayed ‘Hockey Fights Cancer’ lavender decals on their helmets, while their sticks were wrapped in lavender hockey tape. Coaches, broadcasters, management and team staff wore official lavender ‘Hockey Fights Cancer’ ties and lavender ribbons.
Lavender is the designated colour for the project, which is now in its 14th year, representing awareness for all types of cancers.
It was a fulfilling night for Ducks’ alternate captain, Saku Koivu, who had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2001.
Koivu revealed how he was able to successfully beat the disease, saying it could have been difficult for him to overcome this challenge alone but the support he got from his family, friends and especially, the NHL fans, boosted his spirits, resulting in him being able to fight the disease.
In the early phases of the fight against cancer, the support from people close to you is the most important, Koivu added.
“Especially early on when I was diagnosed, the support and help that I got, first of all from my family and my friends, but just everybody in Montreal and in the Province of Quebec and worldwide — emails and letters that we got — were overwhelming”, Koivu said. "I think that’s the most important thing, early on for anybody who goes through the battle with cancer is to have the support so you don’t have to be there by yourself”.
At the event, the first 3000 fans received a ‘Hockey Fights Cancer’ lavender ribbon, and an auction of Ducks’ autographed merchandise was held near Section 213, of which all the proceedings will be going to the charity.
All fans purchasing bracelets were given a photo autographed by Jason Blake and Ducks’ center, Saku Koivu, who had almost missed the entire 2001-2002 regular season after being diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma.
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