For the past three years, Sudbury’s NEO Kids Foundation has been the grateful recipient of both the good press and fundraising dollars that comes with the annual NHL vs Doctors hockey game.
The goal, ultimately, is to raise money for and awareness of the plan to expand the pediatric out-patient centre in Greater Sudbury. But it's also about putting on a good show and entertaining the thousands who come out for the game.
“I think Northern Ontario lacks a dedicated centre that cares of children with various illnesses and we hope the new health centre will help alleviate lot of issues for parents who have to travel out of town for their kids treatments,” said Patricia Mills, the head of the NEO Kids Foundation, on Sunday.
Nick Foligno, father of two and captain of of the Columbus Blue Jackets, knows first-hand the agony of parents whose children suffer from serious illnesses.
“My daughter was born with a congenital heart defect and so I know what parents must be going through, and just talking to doctors here in Sudbury we realized just how important it is to have a centre here in the North,” Foligno said.
For Foligno and his teammates participating in the charity game is just another way to give back to the community and support families who need it the most.
Prior to the game, an anonymous donor agreed to match funds raised up to $500,000.
When Foligno was first approached to be a part of the charity foundation, he said he didn't expect the kind of response the event has received.
“I didn’t really expect it to grow this big, but the very fact that it did makes it even more worthy cause,” Foligno said.
And that’s what brings him back every year.
“I think as athletes we have a platform which allows us to get the word out on issues that matter and so we try to use that to the best of our advantage,” Foligno said.
As for hockey in August, Foligno said it just seemed like the thing to do considering Sudbury’s passion for the sport.
Folgino is joined by his brother Marcus Foligno, and NHLers Josh Anderson, Seth Jones, Scott Harrington, Boone Jenner, Dalton Prout, Ben Chiarot, Derek MacKenzie, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Damien Giroux, Zack Stortini and longtime Maple Leafs commentator Joe Bowen.
Foligno’s team faced off physicians Dr. Christopher Trebb, Dr. Steve Morris, Dr. Andre Michon, Dr. Sean Murray, Dr. Ryan DeMarchi, Dr. Ryan Hodgins, Dr. James Masters, Dr. John Snider, Dr. Jason Prpic, Dr. Rob Pineau, Dr. Jeff Sloan, Dr. Rob Anderson, Dr. Paul Gibb, Dr. Ian Symington and Dr. Chris Bourdon.
For Foligno the goal won't truly be fulfilled until the doors of an expanded Sudbury pediatric out-patient clinic open.
“I have had parents come up to me and tell me that their child went through something and they had to go to Toronto for six months or Ottawa for eight months and you realize the effects this has on people,” Foligno said.
