Spartan Hockey Strong Initiative Wraps Successful November

Gallery: (12-1-2022) Spartan Hockey Strong

East Lansing, Mich. -- Michigan State hockey implemented a "Spartan Hockey Strong" campaign throughout the month of November that put a spotlight on cancer awareness and gave the community and the program an opportunity to honor those who have been impacted by the disease.

The initiative had a financial component - $1 of each ticket purchased for MSU's home games in the month of November will be donated by MSU Athletics and Spartan Hockey to Brandon's Defense Foundation – a total of $21,352. Brandon's Defense is a 501c3 charity based in the Lansing Area which funds pediatric oncology research as well providing resources to families with children who have cancer.     This donation to Brandon's Defense is made possible by the fans and community support we received by attending games, purchasing tickets, and utilizing the opportunity to donate an additional amount when purchasing tickets online.

Awareness and honoring those whose lives have been impacted by the disease was a tremendously important part of the initiative. The Spartan hockey family had been hit particularly hard over the previous year, so this was a personal endeavor for everyone at Munn Ice Arena. Throughout the month of November, players wore the Spartan Hockey Strong stickers on their helmets while staff members wore lapel pins.

At each home game, "Today I Honor" signs were available for fans to fill out on the concourse to give fans a space to honor and support individual journeys (those who we have lost, those currently undergoing treatment, survivors, caregivers, and loved ones).  Fans were invited to leave their "Today I Honor" cards upon exiting the arena to become a part of the Honor Wall. Players and staff members also participated - and the names of all of those cancer warriors will continue to adorn the walls in the Munn Hall of Hockey through the first weekend series in December against Minnesota.

In addition, a commemorative puck series was handed out to each of the first 500 fans at the first three home games in November, with the words "Strength", "Courage" and "Honor" on the pucks distributed.

The intention is that the November #SpartanHockeyStrong initiative will continue to be celebrated in future seasons, allowing the Spartan hockey program to join with our community to honor members of our families impacted by the disease.

ABOUT BRANDON'S DEFENSE
DeWitt teenager Brandon Gordon met the Spartan Hockey team through their visits to Sparrow Hospital as part of the Spartan Buddies program. Diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in January of 2007, Brandon developed a quick friendship with his fellow hockey players, and spent a lot of time with the team during their run to the 2007 National Championship and throughout the next two seasons. Brandon passed away in February of 2009, and the foundation was officially launched as a 501c3 charity in his honor in May of that year.

The mission of Brandon's Defense is to increase the awareness of childhood cancer, fund pediatric research and to provide resources for children with cancer. The vision is to continue to fund research to increase survival rates for all cancers, so that one day every child can be guaranteed a treatment – and ultimately, a cure.

All of the initiatives for Brandon's Defense are executed entirely by volunteers.

Brandon often wondered why "childhood cancer" is rarely in the media... why the protocol he was on was 30 years old... and why there were no more options for him to keep fighting! Even with countless tumors throughout his entire body and extreme difficulty breathing, Brandon still wanted to fight! Brandon asked if we could same day raise money for pediatric cancer research to provide more treatment options for kids. Our mission was developed based on what was helpful to Brandon throughout his journey and to honor his request to raise funds for pediatric cancer research. Brandon's Defense will carry on the fight in his honor - to help kids with cancer in Mid-Michigan and fund childhood cancer research so hopefully some day soon every child *will* win their battle with cancer.

Spartan Hockey Strong Initiative Wraps Successful November

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