Sarcoma has hit the Rogers Youth Hockey Association hard over the past few years, starting with the parent of 2 youth players getting diagnosed and eventually losing the battle to Epithelioid Sarcoma. This was followed by 2 youth players receiving the diagnoses of Rhabdomyosarcoma and Ewing’s Sarcoma. Thankfully, these players have finished treatments and are back on the ice on their road to remission. It was then learned that another parent of two high school players, and a former board member of Rogers hockey youth and high school boards, lost his battle to Fibrosarcoma. Additionally, a Champlin Park youth hockey player was diagnosed with sarcoma at the same time.
Sarcoma cases constitute about 15% of all cancers in children, but are much rarer in adults and make up only about 1% of adult cancer cases. So, with their hockey community hit so hard by this “rare” cancer, Rogers Youth Hockey Association knew Rein in Sarcoma was who they wanted to support.
In partnership with Rogers High School Boys and Girls Hockey teams, Rogers Youth Hockey Association hosted its fundraising event the weekend of Jan 20-21. This included a teddy bear toss at both our Girls and Boys Varsity hockey games, with 122 animals delivered to Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. In addition, there was Chuck a Puck, Nothing Bundt Cakes sold their tasty Bundtlets with a portion of sales goes to your fundraiser), a face painter was at the Saturday Boys HS game, and a youth hockey player sold his 3D printed Hockey Fights Cancer magnets, keychains, and other items. There was a silent auction with many items and gift cards donated by hockey families, local restaurants, and the MN Wild. The biggest fundraiser was the Team Fundraising competition. Each team gets a unique URL to send to friends and families so they can donate to their team’s fundraising goal. Prizes were collected to be given to the top 3 teams that raised most and the individual player that collected the most donations.
From the team fundraising competition alone, Rogers Youth Hockey Association collected $6,796 and in total raised over $9,000 to fund Rein in Sarcoma’s work of education, patient and family support, and research.