Fighting cancer on the ice
Fundraiser provides money for medicine, travel and renovations
Organizers are hoping to fill the stands this weekend as future hockey stars take to the ice for the 24th annual Leah Dugas Memorial Hockey Kids Against Cancer tournament.
The event was renamed in honour of Dugas in 2005, a little girl who lost her battle with cancer when she was just nine years old. The youngster had been involved in the hockey tournament as its official princess and organizers felt naming the tournament after her was a fitting tribute.
“I remember she came out on the ice in a ’64 Mustang convertible one year in a little fur coat,” said tournament organizer Joey Bonar.
“(The tournament) was slowing down a few years ago, but you let it go one year, it’s gone and I want people to remember Leah. She had such tremendous spirit and zest for life. She won the hearts of everyone she met.”
Bonar said he wants people to know why the tournament is so important.
“I put old clippings from the Cape Breton Post on the wall so people who didn’t know the Dugas family can read about Leah. Often you will see tears in their eyes when they see what she went through,” he said. “It helps when people understand why the tournament continues year after year.”
Eight teams will take part in the two-day tournament, which begins Friday at 9 a.m. and runs throughout the day. Play resumes at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday with the opening ceremonies to take place at 1 p.m. The championship game gets underway at 4:30 p.m.
The fun tournament is a unique fundraiser with the proceeds used to provide financial assistance to parents and families of children of all ages who are treated in the pediatrics unit at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital.
The fund covers things like prescriptions and medications, travel costs for care and accessibility renovations to patients’
homes.
“Everything raised goes to Kids Against Cancer,” Bonar said. “We have 50/50 draws all day, we have donations made during the opening ceremony from community organizations,” Bonar said. “We usually average about $3,000 and last year we raised $4,600 which was our best effort yet.”
Bonar said without the support of the local Hockey Moms, an army of volunteers, and organizations such as the
Sydney Mines Royal Canadian Legion, Sydney Mines Volunteer Fire Department, and local businesses, the tournament wouldn’t be possible.
“It’s flat out both days at the rink and it’s exciting for the kids. The Dugas family is usually here helping out both days.
“In between games there are sandwiches, sweets, coffee, tea and fruit tea in the hospitality room and the canteen is open,” he said.
“It is exciting for these youngsters to get to play in front of a crowd. To the kids it’s like the NHL. We have the music going like they have at the big games and every child gets a medal. It’s March break and it gives everybody something to do.”
“I put old clippings from the Cape Breton Post on the wall so people who didn’t know the Dugas family can read about Leah.” Tournament organizer Joey Bonar