Pictured: Shay Needham, Hockey for Hope founder and lung neuroendocrine cancer survivor
The skates have come off and the results are in: the third annual Hockey for Hope tournament has raised more than $36,300 to support the mental health of cancer patients and survivors receiving care at the QEII Health Sciences Centre.
This year’s total brings Hockey for Hope’s cumulative impact to over $108,000 since its launch in 2023 — and, most importantly, has helped reopen the QEII Foundation’s mental health grant program for cancer patients, which temporarily closed earlier this spring due to overwhelming patient demand. The grant program – which was sparked by and remains possible thanks to Hockey for Hope and its founder, Shay Needham – provides vital funding for cancer patients who need access to additional mental health supports.
That impact is felt in a big way. Cancer affects nearly every family in Nova Scotia — a province with the highest cancer rates in Canada — and its emotional toll can be just as heavy as the physical one. These Hockey for Hope–funded grants help fill a critical gap by providing access to additional supports like private counselling, group or couple’s therapy, disease-related retreats, mental health apps as well as other mental health resources that help patients manage anxiety, cope during treatment, and improve overall quality of life.
Care teams apply on behalf of their patients who could benefit from these additional services — ensuring help reaches those who need it most, when they need it most. One hundred per cent of funds raised through Hockey for Hope are directed to these QEII Foundation administered grants, meaning every dollar has a direct and immediate impact on patient care.
“When we heard applications had to close earlier this year because demand was so high, it hit us hard,” says Shay Needham, lung neuroendocrine cancer survivor and founder of Hockey for Hope. “This tournament shows what community can make possible, but continued support and sponsorship are vital to keep these mental health grants sustainable all year-round.”
Held September 5–7, the 2025 Hockey for Hope tournament was the largest to date for participation, with a record-breaking 20 teams taking to the ice and the addition of both “learn to play” and competitive divisions. Over three days of hockey, camaraderie and community spirit, players and supporters came together with one shared goal — improving the mental health of those living with cancer.
The excitement continued off the ice at Hockey for Hope’s sold-out social at The Village Taphouse, which helped boost the event’s fundraising total even further and featured a live performance by Jon Cyr.
For Shay, this year’s tournament carried deep personal meaning — coinciding with the 10-year anniversary of her lung neuroendocrine cancer diagnosis. Her own experience with the emotional impact of cancer inspired her to take action. Alongside close friend and event co-organizer Jennifer Skidd Buffett (pictured below), Shay created Hockey for Hope to ensure that others facing cancer have access to the mental health care and resources that helped her through her own journey.
“Hockey for Hope is an extraordinary example of what community leadership can achieve,” says Susan Mullin, QEII Foundation president and CEO. “Shay’s vision and determination have transformed her personal journey into lasting impact — creating a fund that is directly improving the mental health and well-being of cancer patients receiving care at the region’s largest and most specialized cancer treatment hospital.”
As the QEII Foundation celebrates Shay’s inspiring leadership, she’s quick to credit the people who help make it all possible — those whose generosity helps ensure that Hockey for Hope makes an impact year after year.
“Every year, I’m in awe of the support and compassion that surrounds this event,” says Shay. “Whether you’re playing in the tournament, attending the social, volunteering, or sponsoring us — every person who shows up is a part of something bigger. You’re helping patients feel supported, seen and cared for during one of the hardest chapters of their lives.”
The tournament’s success was once again fueled by the generosity of Menzies Aviation, which sponsored all ice time for the three-day event through its John Maxwell Menzies (JMM) Community Fund — a global initiative that supports employee-led charitable projects around the world. Shay works for Menzies Aviation as a regional manager of fuel operations at Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ), and the company’s involvement in Hockey for Hope reflects its strong commitment to empowering employees to give back to the communities and causes that matter most to them.
Generous support from The Arthur L. Irving Family Foundation, the Halifax International Airport Authority’s Uplifted Program, and others all helped bring this year’s event to life, explains Shay.
“We’re so grateful to every sponsor, player, volunteer and donor who continues to stand behind Hockey for Hope,” says Shay. “You’ve helped reopen a program that was paused because the need was so great — and that’s something every person involved should feel incredibly proud of.”
As the final buzzer sounded at this year’s event, one thing was clear: Hockey for Hope continues to prove what’s possible when a community rallies behind a cause that touches so many. The result — more hope, more awareness and more cancer patients supported through one of the toughest journeys they’ll face.
To donate now and help ensure these mental health grants are available for cancer patients, visit: QE2Foundation.ca/HockeyForHope. To get involved as a 2026 Hockey for Hope sponsor, email hockeyforhopetourney@gmail.com.
