Live Audio - Saturday
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - This weekend, Davenport University and Calvin College hockey teams will face off against cancer in two Community for a Cure home games that benefit cancer research at Van Andel Institute (VAI). Both games are dedicated to Bill Wondergem, a Calvin alumnus and VAI researcher who passed away unexpectedly on October 24 at age 24.
“We wanted to partner on this charity game making it a whole weekend to raise money and awareness for research happening in our backyard!” said Chris Green, Davenport University's Hockey Coach. “DU and Calvin are two local schools who have impact in the West Michigan community and we wanted to partner with VAI because of their impact in West Michigan and human health.”
The games are on Friday, November 12, at 7:30 p.m. at Jolly Roger Ice Rink and on Saturday, November 13, at 7:00 p.m. at Patterson Ice Center. Both Davenport and Calvin players will wear pink jerseys to promote breast cancer awareness, and money will be raised through admission, chuck-a-puck during halftime, T-shirt sales, and donations. This is the second year hosting a Community for a Cure game for both teams; last year's games raised a combined total of $2,400 for cancer research at VAI.
Both schools are dedicating their games in memory of Bill Wondergem, who passed away unexpectedly on October 24 at age 24. Bill Wondergem was a former Calvin College hockey player and worked at VAI as a research technician in the Laboratory of Cancer Genetics.
“We would like our money to be donated in memory of him to the lab he worked in,” said Calvin's Hockey Coach Mike Petrusma. “We want to make this bigger and better each year to honor Billy!”
Through VAI's Community for a Cure initiative, schools and communities come together at sporting events to share stories, lean on each other for support, celebrate hope, and raise funds to help fight cancer. Schools all over Michigan have either hosted or participated in Community for a Cure games, and nearly 40 events have raised more than $160,000 for cancer research. Community for a Cure has grown to include non-sporting events as well; Road Rodz Car Club hosted car show event August 27 to support cancer research in honor of Christine Goedhart, a club member who died of breast cancer in 2008.
Schools or community members interested in hosting a Community for a Cure event can visit vai.org or contact Sara Hop at 616-234-5598 or sara.hop@vai.org.
