The Stick It to Prostate Cancer ball hockey tournament raised $45,000 for Prostate Cancer Canada, but in the end, raising awareness about the illness was just as important.
CrossIron Mills hosted the tournament on Sept. 25 with 35 teams taking part in the all-day event. Former Calgary Flame Sheldon Kennedy served as this year’s honorary chair.
“I’m glad to be involved,” Kennedy said. “It’s an important cause and one that has a 90 per cent chance of being prevented through a pretty simple process. (Former Flames owner) Harley Hotchkiss died of prostate cancer earlier this year and I had some issues this summer. Thankfully it wasn’t cancer, but I understand the process and even the fear that it might be.”
Kennedy also headed up the all-star team, alongside Earle Connor, 18-time world record holder and two-time Paralympic gold medalist in the 100-metre sprint, Olympic luger Sam Edney, Wild Rose MP Blake Richards and Airdrie mayor Peter Brown.
This was the second year that Brown participated in the tournament and like Kennedy, he has personal reasons for supporting the event.
“I have friends who have been diagnosed and have beaten prostate cancer,” Brown said. “It’s important that we recognize their fight and be a part of a cure. It’s also important to recognize how easy it is to prevent.”
Playing alongside Kennedy was an honour for Brown.
“People like Sheldon are few and far between,” he said. “He’s worked through so much adversity in his life and he’s resolved to help others.”
Paul Jenkins, the tournament organizer, joined Prostate Cancer Canada in 2009, the same year the group began exploring the idea of the ball hockey fundraiser. The first event was held in Rocky View County last year at the CrossIron Mills mall, and has expanded to include a second 2011 event which will be held in Halifax on Oct. 15.
“We wanted to match our message with a sport that our demographic can relate to, and ball hockey was perfect for that,” Jenkins said. “The money is great, but the big key is the awareness we are able to create and trying to get that key demographic actively monitoring their health.”
Jenkins was thrilled at the turnout event and having Kennedy participate.
