2024 Play For A Cure Raises $424,000
The fourth annual, 2024 Play For A Cure Pro Am fundraising event exceeded everyone’s expectations and after tallying all of the additional income from the event, organizers are extremely excited to announce that Play For A Cure has raised $424,000.00. They couldn’t be more grateful to their sponsors, players, volunteers and committee for their continued support.
The event featured 10 teams including 8 men’s teams and 2 women’s teams. The individual and team
fundraising totals hit new levels with an incredible amount of money being raised.
The three day event began at Caesars Windsor on April 18th with NHL Alumni Legend Adam Graves and Hockey Hall of Famer Angela James on stage for a hot stove interview with local announcer Mark Knight, followed by a more intimate interview with Gary Roberts. NHL and Pro alumni players in attendance included Adam Graves, Tim Taylor, Meghan Agosta, Angela James, Michael Leighton, Megan Bozek, Gary Roberts, Mike Knuble, Mike Krushelnyski, Al Iafrate, Andre Roy, Brandon Prust and Andy Delmore.
This year’s guest speaker, Dr. Jim Woodgett, President and Scientific Director of the Terry Fox Research
Institute stated that “witnessing communities come together like this to raise money for cancer research is truly inspirational.”
The following morning, players, sponsors and volunteers gathered at the Vollmer Complex in LaSalle where the players were treated like Pros. Change rooms were adorned with personalized custom jerseys, custom towels, custom skate mats and water bottles along with all of the supplies found in a professional NHL change room.
In addition, chiropractor Dr. David Piche was on hand to ensure the athletes were ready to play, Blackstone and their technicians were on hand to take care of skate and equipment needs.
A hot breakfast and lunch were provided by St Clair College catering and fresh hot coffee, tea and pastries provided by Tim Hortons were available all day. To ensure all of our athletes’ hydration needs were covered we had plenty of water, BioSteel and Kingsville Beer on hand.
Everything ran smoothly with the help of over 100 volunteers to referee, score keep, clean up, prepare food, manage change rooms and secure the venue.
The National Hockey League (NHL), and MRA Experiential brought the United By Hockey, Mobile Museum Experience to the Vollmer Complex for two days during the event. Built within a 53’ double expandable trailer, the mobile museum features interactive displays, artifacts, and more, celebrating hockey’s multicultural trailblazers, changemakers, and business leaders.
One of Hockey’s most prominent trailblazers and role models, Hockey Hall of Famer, and four-time Women’s World Hockey Champion Angela James was in LaSalle, taking part in the Play for a Cure Pro-Am, as well as the Girls Skills for a Cure Event.
One of the many highlights during Friday was seeing local ‘average’ hockey players alongside Youtube puck handling specialists Zac Bell and Pavel Barber who competed in the lunch time shoot out which featured NHL alumni goalie Michael Leighton in net. Players witnessed first hand the incredible skill of these two which seemed unreal; “It’s like the puck is glued to their blade, it can’t be real.”
In the evening, over 600 people attended the All Star game at the Vollmer Complex in LaSalle which had the top 22 fundraisers competing with and against the NHL and Professional alumni hockey players.
The game was between Team Slap and Team Shot which reflected the incredible ‘Slap Shot’ themed all-star jerseys.
The highlight of the night was the ‘Woody’s Hoodies Shoot Out’ featuring Zac Bell, Pavel Barber, Windsor Spitfire’s Carson Woodall, Cole Davis, Max Donoso and one player from every other hockey association in Essex County. Woody’s Hoodies is an initiative of the Windsor Spitfire’s Carson Woodall whose intention is to raise money for local cancer research in honour of his two Nanas. Carson was very proud to donate $12,720 to the cause.
The following day, on Saturday April 20th, our Girls Skills For A Cure in collaboration with the Sun Parlour
Female Hockey Association was once again very successful. For the second year, local female youth hockey players participated in skill sessions with the four female pro players along with local high level coaches. The event brought together over 170 players, 20 volunteers and 15 coaches.
All proceeds go to the Cancer Research Collaboration Fund in partnership with the Windsor Essex Community Foundation which was established to support collaborative cancer research initiatives in our community.