Canadian Women’s Field Hockey Team to Play “A Game for the Cure"

September 4, 2009

The Canadian Women’s Field Hockey Team will be playing a fundraising “Game for The Cure” in support of the BC Cancer Foundation, on Sunday, September 13th at Wright Field, UBC. This showcase game will be the featured event of the UBC Invitational Field Hockey Tournament and the women will don pink Team Canada uniforms to play against the tourney’s all-star team.

“As we were planning the game, we discovered two former captains of Team Canada have had experiences with cancer, one is a Breast Cancer survivor, the other is in chemo therapy right now; it really hit home,” says Louis Mendonca, Head Coach of the Canadian Women’s Program. “Cancer affects everyone; we all have family and friends affected.”

“We will all be playing for someone that day,” says Tyla Flexman, one of two members of the team volunteering to shave her head to up the ante for fundraising dollars. “Almost every chemotherapy patient loses their hair, which along with everything else must be traumatic,” says Flexman. Sam Smith, the other player offering up her locks for cancer said, ”We thought this would be a real statement of solidarity and the hair can be used to make wigs for kids with cancer.”

Mike Gillis, President and General Manager of the Vancouver Canucks will take center field at half time to preside over the “pink” ball toss. His daughter, Kate Gillis is on the National Field Hockey Team and Mike is a great supporter. Every $20 donation qualifies for a pink ball that will be one of 500 tossed at the game. Throughout the game Mike will also oversee the silent auction of select Canuck memorabilia. “Our goal is to raise $20,000 of which $10,000 will be raised online and at the game – I will do whatever I can to help,” pledges Gillis.

A “Wall of Hope – a Link to the Cure” will also provide participants, guests and supporters with the opportunity to place a ribbon on the fence around the field and wear a pink wrist band to show their support of a cure.

Game time will be 4:00 PM September 13th at Wright Field UBC.

Donate online to the BC Cancer Foundation at donate.bccancerfoundation.com