Local firefighters are flooding the ice to take on RCMP in a friendly game of puck known as the 10th annual Guns and Hoses Charity Hockey Game at Brennan Park Arena on Friday (Mar. 19).
This year, all funds collected are going to 26-year-old Nick Miller, who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in September. The disease is a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells, characterized by the rapid growth of abnormal white bloods cells that accumulate in the bone marrow and interfere with the production of normal blood cells.
Miller is resting at home after having undergone four rounds of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant from his brother, Matt, aimed at repairing his immune system.
On Feb. 27, however, Miller began traveling daily to Vancouver for 100 days of outpatient care as doctors monitor his progress. Every day, his father Richard, a retired school teacher, drives him to the city, said his mother Donnaleen.
"He's really tired and he's always been an active, outdoor guy it's hard for a young person," she said.
"They say everyone has to walk through the fire and I guess this is our fire. I won't allow myself not to believe that we're going to come through it okay."
A Howe Sound Secondary graduate, Miller works as a security guard at 撸奶社区General Hospital and had taken ownership of his first home a month before being diagnosed.
Doctors should know the success of the treatment by late spring, said Donnaleen. Success would mean a full recovery after another six to 12 months.
The outstanding support from the 撸奶社区community is uplifting for Miller, who is accustomed to independence, said Donnaleen.
"I think for this to happen, happening in 撸奶社区has been great. We've been so supported by friends and colleagues the people in 撸奶社区are so generous and kind."
Last year, the Guns and Hoses event raised more than $4,000 for Jordan Neumann, who died at the age of 20 in January after battling brain cancer.
What started as a casual game of hockey a decade ago quickly evolved into a fundraiser for various causes and organizations before focusing on locals who are battle disease, said firefighter Gerry Reed, who has participated in the event from the beginning.
"We thought, why not give it to someone locally that could use it, too. And that's where it has come to now," adding that last year doubled the previous year's total.
"It seems to be getting bigger and bigger every year."
Admission is by donation and there will be lots of prizes available, including signed Vancouver Canucks jerseys. The firefighters won last year's game in a shootout.
Miller hopes to be strong enough to take part in the ceremonial puck drop to kick off the game at 6:30 p.m.
