Hockey will take a backseat to real life Saturday when the Fort Erie Meteors host the Hamilton Kilty B’s.
The Meteors are donating proceeds from the game to Fort Erie residents Brianna and Teddy Stoner, whose two-year-old son Macklin is battling Burkitt lymphoma leukaemia, a rare form of aggressive cancer.
The idea for the fundraiser came from Meteors associate coach Anthony Passero, who stumbled across the story on social media.
“I read it and realized the boy’s uncle is an alumni (Wade Kenny),” Passero said. “It puts things in perspective. We’re so fixated and so into hockey and we’re all hockey guys but think about everything else going on around us.”
The Meteors plan to donate all proceeds from the game including ticket sales, jersey auction, 50/50 draw and the puck toss.
“We just want to get as many people into the building as possible. The more people the better so we can try and get this family some help,” Passero said.
Brianna Stoner said her and her husband have been overwhelmed with the generosity of the community.
“We can’t even try to put into words what the whole town and community have done and how they have come together and supported us,” she said.
Both Brianna Stoner and Teddy Stoner have taken leave of absences from their jobs to spend as much time with Mackiln, who has received two bouts of chemotherapy treatment and is in line for a third at McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton.
“We have two others at home and still paying for all the bills and the house and their activities. They don’t stop when life hits you like this. We still have all those responsibilities,” Brianna Stoner said. “We have no idea when we are returning to work.”
In addition to game proceeds, the Meteors are also doing individual fundraising.
“The coolest thing for us is watching our players be part of it,” Passero said. “These guys go through a lot with schooling and work and then they play hockey. Every player is pledging for this and going around raising money. It’s just another thing added to their plate but not one kid batted an eye. I think that’s the coolest part. You get nervous bringing stuff to their attention but kids are coming to us trying to get more tickets.
“It hit home for our players. You’re doing a really good thing and it’s going to be appreciated and it makes you a better person and you learn a lot.”
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