New research projects to be funded from $8.2 million raised this season, doubling total from previous year
EDMONTON — Ben Stelter continues to be an inspiration nearly three years after his death at the age of 6 from glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer.
The Edmonton Oilers superfan, who died on Aug. 9, 2022, was the catalyst for a Hockey Fights Cancer funding announcement Wednesday prior to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Oilers and Florida Panthers at Rogers Place.
The NHL and NHLPA initiative, powered by the V Foundation and presented by AstraZeneca, announced it would fund two additional pediatric cancer research and adult glioblastoma research projects in Ben’s name from the $8.2 million raised this season, which doubled the total raised in 2023-24.
“It means so much that the NHL is still thinking about Ben a few years after he passed away, it means a great deal to our family,” Ben’s father Mike Stelter said following the announcement from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh and Shane Jacobson, V Foundation CEO. “Glioblastoma is the type of brain cancer that Ben had and Ben had the same type of treatment that people would have had in the 80s. So to see a significant investment go to glioblastoma research is incredible and it means a lot to our family.”
Ben’s battle with glioblastoma touched the Oilers, the city of Edmonton and the NHL. His battle was brought to light after he was chosen to be the Scotiabank Skater and led Oilers starters on the ice before a 5-2 win against the San Jose Sharks in Edmonton on March 24, 2022.
Oilers forward Zach Hyman then brought him into the postgame media conference, where he endeared himself to the entire city with his infectious personality.
“It was a bit of a surreal feeling seeing Gary Bettman talk about Ben and mention his name,” Stelter said. “Everybody in this room knows who Ben is, which is hard to put into words and what that means.”
The Ben Stelter Foundation was set up in his honor to help children diagnosed with cancer. Three years after its inception, the foundation continues to grow.
“It’s building momentum which is incredible to see,” Mike Stelter said. “The support from the community has been incredible and the support from hockey community has been unreal. We’re seeing donations come in from across Canada, across the United States for people that want to support Ben or on Ben’s birthday saying, ‘Do it for Ben,’ or ‘Win it for Ben,’ is pretty incredible.”
The foundation is currently working on raising funds for a proton therapy center in Edmonton, which would be the first of its kind in Canada. Mike Stelter underwent proton therapy treatments in Philadelphia toward the end of 2023 for a tumor in his back.
“It’s going to be huge,” Mike Stelter said of the center. “That one is very exciting. It’ll be the Ben Stelter Centre for Proton Therapy and Neuroscience.”
Hockey Fights Cancer is an NHL initiative to increase awareness and raise funds to support families and sponsor research. The NHL and NHLPA partnered with the V Foundation and AstraZeneca two seasons ago and have exponentially increased the fundraising prowess, said Bettman.
“We are thrilled with what we accomplished together this past season and are excited to see what our teamwork can do in the coming years in our quest to vanquish cancer,” Bettman said.
Through its partnership with the V Foundation, launched in 1993 by ESPN and late North Carolina State men’s basketball coach and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Jim Valvano, Hockey Fights Cancer continues to make a lasting impact.
“We’ve had back-to-back record-breaking years of fundraising, and we are thankful to the NHL, the NHLPA and the entire hockey community for rallying around a worthy cause,” Jacobson said. “Each dollar donated to the V Foundation through Hockey Fights Cancer goes directly to cancer research grants that are bettering treatment options, finding cures and saving lives. Together, we are providing hope of a better tomorrow to the millions of families faced with cancer each year.”
