The Collingwood Blues will be wearing different hues again this year for a special charity game that has become an annual tradition.
In February the Collingwood Junior A team will wear purple jerseys for a Hockey Battles Cancer game that will be part of a fundraising effort to support local patients going through cancer treatments and the Collingwood hospital's diagnostic imaging department.
The first $13,000 raised will be used to purchase "chemotherapy care gift totes," which are put together by a professional and contain multiple items that would come in handy for patients going through the treatment, such as appointment and notebooks, a blanket, socks, skincare, candy, a neck pillow and more.
Any additional funds raised will be donated to the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital Foundation for the diagnostic imaging department.
Kathy Jeffery, a town councillor and the Hockey Battles Cancer event organizer, said the second-annual event is another way the team is doing good work in the community.
"I'm so proud of the team ... and just really happy that we found a way we can make the lives of Collingwood and area residents a little bit better during a really challenging time for them," said Jeffery.
The Collingwood Blues started their Hockey Battles Cancer event last year after hearing about one of the arena summer students' battle with osteosarcoma in his femur, the same cancer that Terry Fox had.
The Februrary 2023 event helped raise $14,000 for Aiden Frazer and his family to help them cover costs linked to his cancer treatments. The total proceeds for Hockey Battles Cancer was $22,000, with a portion being donated to Hospice Georgian Triangle.
"It was a really successful event last year, and we're looking to continue it," said Jeffery.
Like last year, the event will include an online and a silent auction, and will be selling corporate sponsorships for the event as well. Jeffery is looking for local businesses, indidviduals and organizations to contribute to the fundraiser's auctions and sponsorships to help reach the goal.
The online auction and silent auction begin on January 21 and the charity game will be Friday, Feb. 2.
To contribute to the event or find out more about sponsorships, email Jeffery at [email protected].
