NHL Foundation Announces CureSearch Partnership
In June, the NHL Foundation (National Hockey League) announced a partnership with CureSearch as part of its commitment to fighting childhood cancer.
The partnership is an expansion of the NHL Foundation's Hockey Fights Cancer joint charitable initiative with the NHL Players' Association that is committed to raising money and awareness for childhood cancer patients of all ages. The alliance with CureSearch will deepen the NHL Foundation's commitment to children that have been diagnosed with cancer.
"Since its inception in 1998, the Hockey Fights Cancer initiative has raised more than $6.8 million and brought NHL players to Children's Hospitals across North America," said Bernadette Mansur, executive director, NHL Foundation. "We are honored to be joining forces with CureSearch and its vast network of member hospitals and events to further our commitment to cancer's youngest patients."
"It is a privilege to be included in the Hockey Fights Cancer initiative," said Paul T. Burke, CureSearch President. "With the generous support of the NHL and hockey fans around the country, we can make tremendous strides toward conquering childhood cancer in our lifetime and reaching the day when every child with cancer can be guaranteed a cure."
In support of the partnership, the NHL Foundation and CureSearch invited the NHL's 2004 7th Kid, cancer survivor, Nicholas Marriam of Clayton, N.C., to be their ambassador through June 2005. Marriam was honored as the NHL's 7th Kid as he illustrated his love, dedication and loyalty to his favorite team, the Washington Capitals, in part by sharing his love for the sport of hockey with children at the Children's Hospital of Washington, D.C. where he was hospitalized for 172 days in 1999 when he successfully fought off T Cell Lymphoma.
As ambassador, Marriam participated in CureSearch Gold Ribbon Days 2004, an event where childhood cancer patients, survivors and their families from around the country gathered in Washington, DC to elevate the issues of childhood cancer to a national public policy priority.
As part of the partnership, the NHL Foundation will integrate CureSearch into existing Hockey Fights Cancer activities and events such as Hockey All-Star Kids, All-Star Game check presentation and Member Club Awareness Nights. CureSearch will create unique NHL and NHL player content at marquee events such as its annual Gold Ribbon Days. Hockey Fights Cancer is a joint charitable initiative founded in December 1998 by the National Hockey League and NHL Players' Association and supported by NHL Member Clubs, NHL Alumni, the NHL Officials' Association, Professional Hockey Athletic Trainers and Equipment Managers, corporate marketing partners, broadcast partners and fans throughout North America. To date, more than $6.2 million has been raised to support cancer research. Fans are encouraged to join the fight by calling 1-800-540-6500 or logging on to www.hockeyfightscancer.com. All donations are tax deductible.