Lady Rangers Sport Purple Laces for a Cause, News, Intermediate - OWHA #2746, 2019-2020, A (Kitchener Minor Hockey)

This Team is part of the 2019-2020 season, which is not set as the current season.
News Article
News Article Image
Jan 24, 2020 | Tori Waite | 311 views
Lady Rangers Sport Purple Laces for a Cause
This month, The Kitchener Lady Rangers Intermediate A team came together to wear purple skate laces in support of an inspiring cause. 

Jeff Thompson has been a non-parent coach with Kitchener Minor Hockey for both the House League and 4-on-4 program. In 2017, Jeff's wife, Sandy, was diagnosed with tentorial menengioma (a non-cancerous, slow-growing brain tumour). In November 2018, Sandy was finally operated on to have her tumour removed. Since Sandy's surgery, she has had countless setbacks and multiple hospital stays, leaving Sandy unable to work. The stress of the hospital stays, lost answers, and financial burdens have proven to be trying for Sandy and Jeff, and their 3 wonderful children.

Jeff has kept a smile on his face throughout it all. In all of Jeff's trips to the hospital to visit his wife, meetings with doctors, and working, he has chosen to remain as a coach for KMHA. Jeff has also added convening to his schedule, making a further impact on many more kids. 

When one of the fathers on the KMHA Novice Blue MD team, a brain tumor survivor himself, heard the Thompsons' story, he was ready to help. Their team created the Purple Laces Campaign in support of the Thompson family to help raise money and support during their difficult time. The Novice Blue MD initiative has inspired the entire KMHA community, including the Intermediate A Lady Rangers.

For the first half of January, the whole KLR IA team sported a pair of purple laces at home and away games to raise awareness and collect rink-side donations. The initiative unified the team and reminded everyone that hockey creates a strong and supportive community. The Intermediate A Lady Rangers raised a total of $160 dollars for the Thompson family through their Purple Laces Campaign.

You can read the article about the Thompson's on the KMHA website or visit the family's GoFundMe page to donate.

Hockey builds community - together we can make a difference.