The Hockey Marathon for the Kids raised more than $875,000 for the Alberta’s Children’s Hospital’s research in pediatric cancer.
Donations are still being accepted, and event chair Alex Halat is hopeful to reach the goal of one million raised by the weekend.
The goal of the research is to create gentler, more effective treatments and cures that minimize the adverse side effects of current therapies.
“It was a huge success with funds still coming in. Considering how banged up the players are, we are more than happy,” Halat said.
The puck dropped on March 31 at the Chestermere Rec Centre, and 40 players played 261 hours of hockey, setting a new Guinness World Record for the World’s Longest Hockey Game.
The players spent up to 18 hours a day on the ice, four hours at a time. When they weren’t playing, they were alternating breaks to eat, sleep, or receive and massage therapy.
To prepare for the hockey marathon, players started training in July.
“It’s something that couldn’t be taken lightly due to the amount of beating of the body over 10 and a half days,” Halat said. “We suffered swollen feet, blown knees, hips, and back. As well as broken bones and a couple of hospital trips for some players.”
Although the players felt the physical and mental fatigue, meeting the kids of the children’s hospital who are battling cancer motivated everyone to keep playing.
A visit from the team lead of the Alberta Cellular Therapy and Immune Oncology Initiative (ACTION) Dr. Doug Mahoney also inspired the players to keep going.
Mahoney’s research into immunotherapy is being supported by the donations made.
Without the support of the community, an event like this wouldn’t have been possible.
“It was truly a community event, it took 1,600 volunteers to pull this off,” Halat said.
When players began to feel fatigued, their families would bring pets to the rink for a visit to boost morale, and local schools and daycares also stopped by to cheer on the players.
“We are grateful and in awe of what they are doing, and the sacrifices they and their families are making, and we hope they can hear us rooting for them knowing their efforts will help children today, and for years to come,” President and CEO of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation Saifa Koonar said in a media release.
Halat is encouraging the community to continue donating to reach the goal, and support kids of the children’s hospital.
“Cancer isn’t going away. Let’s all do our part to get every kid back home,” Halat said.
To donate, visit the hockey marathon website.