Cole Bevan has always been a good teammate so when his world was turned upside down, his friends and former teammates rushed to his side.
The 20-year-old was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in late October and began chemotherapy three weeks ago for the aggressive form of cancer.
A GoFundMe page was started over the weekend and as of Thursday morning had reached $9,695 of its $20,000 goal.
“As most of us are parents with kids, many around Cole’s age, we cannot begin to imagine the impact this journey will have on Cole, his family and the day-to-day routines we take for granted,” writes Kelly McNeil-Sproxton on the page.
“He is a real character guy, a rock solid guy who has your back no matter what,” said Royce Rossignol, who has known Bevan since they were seven or eight years old.
“A great leader. Throughout this whole process … he has been a real inspiration for a lot of guys. He is an incredible guy.”
They played through the ranks of the Cloverdale Minor Hockey Association and even patrolled the blue-line together as members of the Valley West Hawks of the BC Major Midget Hockey League.
Bevan was the team’s captain for the 2012/13 season.
Rossignol said several of Bevan’s core group of friends came up with the idea of a charity hockey game.
“When we found out the news we wanted to figure out a way we could make an impact as well as something he would enjoy,” Rossignol said.
That is how they came up with the idea for the Let’s Kick Cancer for Cole fundraiser game. It will be played on Wednesday, Dec. 21 at the Langley Sportsplex.
Admission is by donation with all the proceeds going to help Bevan in the biggest fight of his life.
There will also be raffle prizes as well as a 50/50 draw.
Bevan is expected to suit up in the game, as well as his friends and former teammates throughout the minor, midget and junior levels. He last played junior hockey in 2014/15, splitting his time between the Western Hockey League with the Swift Current Broncos and the BCHL’s Coquitlam Express.
He had hung up his skates and was focused on lacrosse, spending last year with the junior A New Westminster Salmonbellies.
“It will raise awareness and a bit of money, but (also) something that he will enjoy. It should be good,” Rossignol said.
Anyone wanting to donate a prize for the raffle is asked to email royce_r_7@hotmail.com.
To donate to the GoFundMe page click here.