Columbus Blue Jackets and OhioHealth: Hockey Fights Cancer
Hockey Fights Cancer™ is an initiative that was founded in 1998 by the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players' Association to increase cancer awareness. Each season, every team in the league hosts a Hockey Fights Cancer™ night where patients, survivors and physicians in the community are celebrated.
Recently, the Columbus Blue Jackets held their Hockey Fights Cancer™ night and as the official healthcare provider of the Blue Jackets, OhioHealth was honored to participate in the evening.
As fans entered Nationwide Arena, they were handed light purple battle cards (the color represents awareness for all cancers) to write who they fight cancer for. During a second-period timeout, fans had a chance to stand and show their signs to show who they fight cancer for. See the video below.
Once fans made their way up to the concourse, many were able to remember Hockey Fights Cancer™ through a game day OhioHealth photo booth experience. They were able to take fun photos or show their battle cards and post the photos to social media. Near the photo experience, fans could also visit the big, blue OhioHealth cancer ribbon to pin their own ribbon in honor of themselves or someone they are fighting for.
As they reached their seats, they were greeted with information about checkups. It gave a helpful guide of when to get checkups and screening for both men and women. OhioHealth wanted to use the evening to raise awareness and promote screenings.
During the first period, fans in the arena heard from Natalie Jones, MD, a breast and melanoma surgeon with OhioHealth, who was interviewed live on the scoreboard by in-arena host Mike Todd. Dr. Jones talked about OhioHealth's relationship with MD Anderson Cancer Network®, a program of MD Anderson Cancer Center, and how it benefits our patients. You can view the interview below.
Fans who weren’t at the game in person had the opportunity get a taste of Hockey Fights Cancer™ during the game’s first intermission. Andrew V. Grainger, MD, medical director of cancer services at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, was interviewed live by Bob McElligott on CD102.5 radio. They talked about the relationship OhioHealth has with MD Anderson and what it means for the patients as well as what it’s like for Dr. Grainger to be an OhioHealth oncologist. You can listen to the entire interview in the radio clip below.
During the second intermission, a group of OhioHealth cancer physicians and OhioHealth associate cancer patients joined each other on the ice to bring together a larger than life battle card that said “United WE Fight Cancer for Each Other.” Another OhioHealth cancer patient, Lynn Knotts, got to experience a ride on the Zamboni during the second intermission.
Throughout the game, fans had the chance to receive a Blue Jackets and OhioHealth long-sleeve shirt by signing up for the OhioHealth app or winning one during the shirt toss.
It was an inspiring evening that helped spread awareness about OhioHealth’s relationship with MD Anderson and encourage people to get checked. And to top it all off, the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Winnipeg Jets 1-2 in overtime.
To see more photos from the event, view the gallery below or search the hashtags #CBJHFC and #UnitedWeFightCancer on social media.
To learn more about cancer care at OhioHealth, please click here.
