RELEASE: 50/50 to honour Walter Gretzky, support Hockey Fights Cancer

EDMONTON, AB - The Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation (EOCF) will host two specialty game days of the RE/MAX online 50/50 this week, honouring Walter Gretzky's legacy and supporting Hockey Fights Cancer initiatives.
On Wednesday, March 10, net proceeds from the 50/50 raffle will benefit Northern Alberta Food Banks, a cause important to the Gretzky family. The game on Friday, March 12 will benefit the Cure Cancer Foundation and Alberta Cancer Foundation.
Gretzky was a cherished member of the Oilers family who passed away on March 5. Of the many charitable initiatives that were important to him, the role food banks play in feeding the most vulnerable in the community was of particular importance. The EOCF has a longstanding relationship with Edmonton's Food Bank, which serves a vital role in helping feed Edmontonians, and Food Banks Alberta will also benefit, contributing to 58 food banks across Oil Country to assist Albertans in need.
"Edmonton's Food Bank is profoundly grateful to the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation for choosing us as one of the 50/50 recipients of this Wednesday's Oilers game," said Marjorie Bencz, Executive Director. "The fact that we are honouring the late Walter Gretzky's wishes makes this gesture even more poignant as he cared very deeply about giving back to the community. The funds we receive from this 50/50 will be used to support our warehouse operations which distributes food to over 250 agencies, churches, schools, shelters, and food depots serving people in need, and to augment our Beyond Food program. Thank you to Albertans for supporting us and for helping us fulfill our mission to serve people in need while seeking solutions to the causes of hunger."
"Food banks across Alberta have been experiencing record demand since long before the global pandemic touched their communities. As Alberta faced one of the worst economic crisis we have seen in decades, most struggled to meet the demand," said Doug Tweddle, Chair of Food Banks Alberta. "The support of organizations such as the Edmonton Oilers Foundation will assist food banks in 58 local northern communities to ensure that families have food on their tables."

On March 12, the Oilers will host a Hockey Fights Cancer game as part of a league-wide initiative that tackles hockey's most important fight. The signature colour of lavender (representing all cancers) will be evident throughout the night, including lavender jerseys donned by players during pre-game warmup that will be auctioned at a later date at OilersFoundation.ca.
As the fundraising partner to the 17 cancer centres in Alberta, including the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, the Alberta Cancer Foundation focuses on making life better for Albertans facing cancer by inspiring community support to raise funds for innovation in detection, treatment and care.
"Much has changed since the Cross Cancer Institute was built in 1968, as many advances have been made and more people are fortunately surviving their cancer diagnosis now," said Dr. Charlie Butts, Medical Director, Cross Cancer Institute and Alberta Cancer Foundation trustee. "These important funds from the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation will allow us to make improvements, expand our capacity to meet the needs of the growing number of new cancer patients in Alberta and provide the best possible care when they walk through our doors. The Oilers have a long history of supporting patients at the Cross and we are grateful for this latest, crucial contribution."
"The Cure Cancer Foundation is so grateful that the EOCF has assigned the net proceeds of the 50/50 on March 12 to support our ongoing efforts to support clinical trials at the Cross Cancer Institute," said Darren Baumgardner, Director of the Cure Cancer Foundation. "The expansion and updating of the pharmacy is critical to continuing clinical trials of new cancer treatments and serving as the heart of the hospital for all cancer treatments for patients from across Alberta."
EOCF online 50/50 tickets for both game days will be available for purchase to anyone located in Alberta from 9am MT to 11pm MT at
EdmontonOilers.com/5050
.