Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer Launches 2nd Annual Event

Newswise — (February 2, 2012; Toronto) It’s an ordinary workday, and the lunch hour at Commerce Court is bustling with people. Wait a minute! What the heck is going on? Where did those hockey sticks come from? How did those nets appear? There’s a road hockey game in progress!! But what the heck is with those guys wearing jockstraps over their suits?

After an extraordinary inaugural event that raised $2.4 million for cancer research at The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Canadian Cancer Society, Road Hockey To Conquer Cancer will kick off its sophomore campaign with a spontaneous road hockey game on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 12:30pm in the courtyard at Commerce Court (south-east corner of King and Bay). Participants of both sexes are invited to join the ongoing game and wear a cup (athletic support, jockstrap, jill) on the outside of their clothing in a nod to ‘showing your cup for cancer.’ New jockstraps will be provided as required.

Road Hockey To Conquer Cancer, presented by Boston Pizza, is a dawn-to-dusk road hockey tournament designed to raise essential funding for personalized cancer medicine at The Princess Margaret and vital cancer research at the Canadian Cancer Society. Registered teams of 8-12 players,16 years of age and older will play at least 5 games of road hockey through the day on Saturday, September 29 at Ontario Place. Celebrities, food, refreshments and entertainment are all part of the epic fundraising day.

“Showing your cup for cancer is a really fun way for The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation to initiate registration and fundraising for our second annual Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer event,” stated Paul Alofs, President & CEO of The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation. “We already have 82 teams signed up for our event that will take place at the end of September, and hope our spontaneous game on February 7 will attract even more interest and registrations.”

“At the Canadian Cancer Society, we fight back every day through funding life-saving research, advocacy and supporting cancer patients and their families,” said Martin Kabat, CEO, Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division. “We are pleased to be part of this initiative that engages Canadians in their favourite sport to make an impact in the fight against cancer.”

Dr. Benjamin Neel, Director of The Campbell Family Cancer Research Institute at The Princess Margaret, said, “Today, researchers are embarking on a new era of discovery with Personalized Cancer Medicine. Events like Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer have a major impact on the resources needed to conquer cancer in our lifetime.”

Eighty-two teams have already registered for the second annual Road Hockey To Conquer Cancer. To register with a team or as an individual, or if you’d like more information, visit www.TeamUpToConquerCancer.ca. Interested participants may also call 1-877-541-I’M IN (4646).

ROAD HOCKEY TO CONQUER CANCER. Register now!

About Princess Margaret HospitalPrincess Margaret Hospital and its research arm, the Ontario Cancer Institute, have achieved an international reputation as one of the top 5 cancer research centres in the world. Princess Margaret Hospital is a member of University Health Network, which also includes Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital and Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. All are research hospitals affiliated with the University of Toronto. More information about UHN can be found at www.uhn.ca.

About The Princess Margaret Hospital FoundationThe Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation at University Health Network raises funds for breakthrough research, exemplary teaching and compassionate care at Princess Margaret Hospital and its research arm, the Ontario Cancer Institute, which now includes The Campbell Family Cancer Research Institute and The Campbell Family Breast Cancer Research Institute. More information about the Foundation can be found at www.pmhf.ca.

About The Canadian Cancer SocietyThe Canadian Cancer Society is a national community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer. Go to www.fightback.ca to find out how you can help. To learn more about cancer, visit www.cancer.ca or call the toll-free bilingual Cancer Information Service at 1-888-939-3333.