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The Prince Albert Raiders are auctioning off their #HockeyFightsCancer jerseys following their game Friday night against the Everett Silvertips. (P.A. Raiders/Facebook)
#HOCKEYFIGHTSCANCER

Raiders ‘Hockey Fights Cancer’ jersey night holds special meaning for many players

Oct 4, 2024 | 7:37 AM

Justice Christensen’s Grandma Judy, Cooper Anderson’s Auntie Jen, Oli Chenier’s Memère and Grand-père, Jonah Sivertson’s Grandma Sivertson, Tyrone Sobrey’s Mama Janice and Grandma Heather, Daxon Rudoph’s Grandpa Doug, Riley Boychuk’s Grandpa Rick, Cole Peardon’s Grandpa Adrian, Head Coach Jeff Truitt’s sister Cherylee…the list could go on.

Almost every member of the Prince Albert Raiders has had either a family member or close family friend impacted by cancer. Tonight, the team will honour cancer patients, survivors and those who lost their battles by wearing specially designed ‘Hockey Fights Cancer’ jerseys.

Lukas Dragicevic’s family friend Eva is four years old and has been battling leukemia since she was just 2.

“I fight for a cure. This is one of the first times I’ve really seen it [cancer] up close and personal, so I fight for Eva but I also fight for everybody else in the world going through this,” said Dragicevic in a video on the team’s website. “Everybody has someone they’re fighting for and everybody has someone in the back of their head that they want to see get through this and at the end of the day I hope she can fight through this and I hope she knows that everybody is there for her.”

Head Coach Jeff Truitt sat down to talk about his sister, Cherylee, and her ongoing battle with Large B-cell Lymphoma.

The jerseys, which are predominately grey and pink in colour but do include some Raider green stripping, are being auctioned off with the proceeds being donated to the Canadian Cancer Society. The CCS will then earmark those funds for the Travel Treatment Fund for those in and around Prince Albert impacted by cancer.

On their website, the Raiders shared that on average Canadians are spending $260 per month on out-of-pocket expenses related to their cancer diagnosis. The Travel Treatment Fund allows low income individuals to get reimbursed for expenses related to having to travel away from home for treatment, appointments, etc. by covering the cost of fuel, parking, accommodation, etc.

As of Friday morning, there were still about 15 jerseys available on the auction website.

The Raiders (1-2-1-0) will play 15-year-old exceptional status player Landon DuPont and the Everett Silvertips during tonight’s ‘Hockey Fights Cancer’ game. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. Voice of the Raiders, Nick Nielsen, will have the call on 900 CKBI radio.

panews@pattisonmedia.com

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