Charity hockey tournament raises $230K for local cancer research

Play for a Cure Pro-Am Hockey Tournament raised over $418,000 for local cancer research,

of which WE-SPARK Health Institute received $230,000

Funds raised at a charity hockey event will in part go straight to WE-SPARK Health Institute to support cancer researchers at the University of Windsor and across Windsor-Essex.

This year’s Play for a Cure Pro-Am Hockey Tournament raised over $418,000 for local cancer research, of which WE-SPARK Health Institute received $230,000 to support the following three new cancer research grants:

• Cancer Research Igniting Discovery Grant worth $30,000 
• Cancer Research Incentive grant of $50,000 
• Cancer Research Program Lead valued at $150,000 over three years 

Researchers will benefit with the seed funding to advance innovative cancer research and elevate their projects for national funding. Support for a Cancer Research Program Lead will help recognize research excellence and lead the growth of the WE-SPARK cancer research program across our region.  

“We are so grateful for the amazing collaboration with Play for a Cure and the Cancer Research Collaboration Fund,” said Dr. Dora Cavallo-Medved, Interim Director of the WE-SPARK Health Institute. 

“Together we are building and expanding cancer research across our community, training the next generation of researchers and improving patient outcomes. They are true community champions and partners in cancer research.” 

This is not the first time research money has flowed in thanks to the super star hockey event. Over the last give years, Play for a Cure has supported WE-SPARK with a total of $420,000. 

“Today’s announcement is a testament to what our community can achieve when we rally around a common cause,” said Play for a Cure organizer, Jeff Casey, said to CTV News Windsor.

“This funding not only honours the spirit of the Play for a Cure event, but it ensures that the money raised here will have a direct local impact.” 

The celebration of sport, science, and community kicked off with a cancer symposium hosted by Jennifer Jones, past President of Rotary International, and featured keynote speaker Dr. André Veillette, Executive Director of the Terry Fox Research Institute’s 

Marathon of Hope Cancer Centre Network.  Also included in the hockey tournament was a draft party, and the all-star game followed by Girls Skill for a Cure session — an event led by some of the greatest women’s hockey players in Canadian history. 

The events featured NHL alumni, sports celebrities and UWindsor and Windsor Regional Hospital cancer researchers.  

To date, Play for a Cure has raised nearly $2 million for cancer research – with every dollar staying in the Windsor-Essex community to support local scientists, patients, and programs.

Courtesy: https://www.uwindsor.ca/dailynews/2025-05-15/charity-hockey-tournament-raises-230k-uwindsor-cancer-research