Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Hockey Fights Cancer at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday

The Nashville Predators are always in the forefront in the fight against cancer. On Thursday, they will hold the annual Hockey Fights Cancer Night at Bridgestone Arena at the game between the Predators and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The team will wear special Hockey Fights Cancer jerseys during the pre-skate that will be auctioned off to benefit the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

There will be plenty of other activities and ways to get involved. Make the jump for the complete details...


PREDS TAKE ACTION IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER

-Hockey Fight’s Cancer initiative set for tomorrow night-

Nashville, Tenn. (October 26, 2011) – When the Nashville Predators hit the Bridgestone Arena ice tomorrow night to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning, they will be showing their support for the National Hockey League’s Hockey Fights Cancer initiative with the first of two We Care for Kids benefit nights held this season – the second of which will take place on March 10.

To help support the fight against cancer, the Predators Foundation will hold a blind auction of the Hockey Fights Cancer jerseys worn and autographed by the players during that evening’s pre-game skate, and plates designed and painted by cancer patients and autographed by the players will be up for silent auction. Lavender Hockey Fights Cancer ties will be donned by Preds coaches and broadcasters, and Hockey Fights Cancer themed Mystery Sticks ($25), Mystery Pucks ($25) and bracelets ($1) will be offered at the Silent Auction Table. All proceeds from the Silent Auction – and a portion of every single-game ticket sold – will be donated back to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Serving as Child Ambassador for the night will be 8-year-old Jackson, a local Preds fan and cancer patient. Jackson will be given the honor of dropping the puck in a pre-game ceremonial face-off. He will also be named Mayor of Smashville for the evening – charging him with the task of welcoming the team back on the ice with an air-raid siren from the band stage after the first intermission.

Other initiatives from the night include:

The Nashville Predators created a web link at nashvillepredators.com/beatcancer for fans to join the fight against cancer and donate to the Nashville Predators pediatric cancer research grant.

In conjunction with their Be The Match campaign, Vanderbilt Gives Back will be holding a bone marrow donor drive.  Fans can stop by, fill out a health form and have their cheek swabbed to join the registry.

Flashes of Hope will host a photo shoot for patients and their families from Children’s Hospital. flashesofhope.org

Several players will host a post game meet-and-greet/autograph session with patients and their families from Children’s Hospital.

Intermission entertainment provided by Soul Incision, a band comprised entirely of Vanderbilt University Medical Center doctors.

The Silent Auction will offer premier items including a jersey autographed by NHL All-Star Sidney Crosby, a white authentic jersey autographed by goaltender Pekka Rinne, a night-of-game meet and  greet for four, a 2011 NCAA Men’s Final Four Program autographed by John Calipari, an enlarged Preds Press cover autographed by Mike Fisher and much more.

The Nashville Predators donated a number of tickets for tonight’s game to several local charities including Gilda’s Club, Make-a-Wish Foundation of Middle Tennessee and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.  All pediatric cancer patients will be given a We Care for Kids t-shirt to wear at the game.

The Nashville Predators have placed three coin machines with Children’s Hospital logos around the concourse of Bridgestone Arena to collect change throughout the season.  Change collected will go back to Children’s Hospital.

Volunteers from Kohl’s Department Store will be stationed at all main entrances collecting change from fans as they enter.  They will also walk the concourse during both intermissions and solicit donations from fans.
Children’s Hospital patients from the hospital will ride the Zamboni during pregame and intermissions and sit in the penalty box pregame.  Champ will ride the Zamboni second intermission.

Children’s Hospital will have five information tables around the concourse: Children’s Cancer, Junior League – Healthy Children’s Programming, Children’s Cancer, Safety Central, Be the Match and Donate Life.
A Children’s Hospital ambulance will be placed on the plaza as fans enter the building.

DNC-Sportservice will solicit donations from all guests who purchase items at the concession stands.  Fans have the option of donating $1 onto their purchase with the proceeds benefitting Children’s Hospital.
Levy Restaurant will solicit donations benefitting Children’s Hospital at the Patrón Platinum Club.

All employees working the game will wear a lavender ribbon on their lapel.

Last season, the Nashville Predators presented a check for $181,000 to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. The biggest portion of that donation, $125,000, went towards the Nashville Predators Pediatric Cancer Research Fund – an endowed fund that will always be active and to which others may donate – with the remaining portion of the donation supporting a number of programs including Beads of Courage, Books From Birth of Middle Tennessee and Flashes of Hope.

Hockey Fights Cancer is a joint initiative created by the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players Association which honors those in the hockey community who have struggled, or continue to struggle with the disease. This year the NHL gave all 30 teams $5,000 to go toward a cancer charity of their choice; the Nashville Predators selected Children’s Hospital.  The goal of Hockey Fights Cancer is to raise money and awareness for national and local organizations involved in cancer care and research.

Go here for discount tickets for tonight's game and use the offer code preds.

More Later...

Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass

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