Raising Money for American Cancer Society
Hope Lodge
Skating for 24 hours straight is not something normally done, let alone on a
90-degree weekend in the middle of the summer.
But that is what six Walpole residents did beginning on Saturday morning
July 30 and ending Sunday morning the July 31 during the “Skating for Hope
Skate-a-thon” to raise money for the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge.
What was it like to volunteer for 24 hours?
“I could hardly stay awake,” said Walpole High hockey Rebel player Alex Carde.
“It was a great experience that has changed our perspective on life. I cannot wait
to go back next year.”
The event had more than 200 skaters and raised over $10,000 for the Hope Lodge.
Hope Lodge, near downtown Worcester, is a patient service program of the American
Cancer Society, offering support for cancer patients traveling to Massachusetts for
ongoing treatment.
Since opening its doors in 1985, the Lodge has provided help and caring by offering
free, temporary lodging to thousands of cancer patients and caregivers from around
the nation and the world.
While the facility offers many of the comforts of home, the true magic of the
Hope Lodge is the built-in support system and friendships formed. Other guests,
facing similar circumstances, rally around each other offering strength and
camaraderie. The volunteers and staff, many of whom are cancer survivors themselves,
strive to create an environment in which guests can relax and concentrate on
getting well.
Hope Lodge manager and event organizer Dave McGrath is himself a brain cancer
survivor. He is the only one of the 200 participants to have skated for the
entire 24 hours.
Another Walpole Rebel skater, Ryan Erwin, 17, said the experience of seeing
McGrath skate changed his thoughts about giving back. “Seeing the joy on
Dave’s face after
finishing, I realized and finally believed that one person can make a difference and
it made me want to continue to do volunteering in the community.”
A highlight of the event was a skatathon Bean Pot game pitting BC against BU
alumni. Refereed by former NHL official and Walpole resident Paul Stewart, the
game saw BC go head to head again with their former rivals.
Stewart, himself a cancer survivor said, “The level of talent was only surpassed
by the level of enthusiasm for the game and raising money for Hope Lodge. Everyone
had a good time and everyone was a winner.”
Walpole High School hockey team members Alex Carde, John White, Matt Bender,
Ryan Erwin and Russell Ollis participated.
Former BC star and current Walpole Varsity Hockey Coach Jamie O’Leary said
he was proud of the five Walpole Hockey players that volunteered.
“These are the times where we show that Walpole hockey is a better program than
the rest of the league. Our kids care more than just about hockey and this is
ultimately what will make them better people,” said O’Leary.
Carde, 17, said, “I realized that just because someone is diagnosed with cancer
doesn’t mean your life is over. I really hope that if I ever was diagnosed, that
people would come forward and support me just as people did for Hope Lodge.”
Mark Erwin, the Walpole Hockey Boosters volunteer coordinator, said “I am
very
excited to get the players involved with volunteer and charity work. I accepted
this role because I do a fair amount of volunteering myself and find the
rewards of helping others so great that I want to share that experience with
the boys. I hope that they find this as rewarding as I do.”
Mark Erwin said that Coach O'Leary believes strongly in team building and has
told the players many times "leave something better than you found it”.
For more information and to make donations visit the website
http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/SupportProgramsServices/HopeLodge/
Worcester/index). |
