Four years of Hockey for Hope: Nearly $150,000 raised to support the mental health of cancer patients

What began as one cancer survivor's determination to make a difference has grown into four years of extraordinary community impact — helping patients access additional mental health support when they need it most.

Twenty-two hockey teams. Three days of competition, camaraderie and community spirit. And an incredible $40,238 net and counting raised for the QEII Foundation.

The fourth Hockey for Hope tournament, held September 11–13, delivered another remarkable fundraising milestone, bringing the event's cumulative impact to nearly $150,000 raised since 2023.

But for founder and lung neuroendocrine cancer survivor Sharon (Shay) Needham, the greatest victories have always happened beyond the ice — in the lives of cancer patients who can access mental health support because of the generosity this event inspires.

"It's overwhelming at times because I'm sharing something so personal and vulnerable," says Shay. "Ultimately, I don't want other cancer patients to feel alone or afraid to ask for help. Knowing we've made someone's journey a little easier, or helped them get the support they need, means everything to me."

TURNING PERSONAL HARDSHIP INTO HOPE FOR OTHERS
Shay knows firsthand that a cancer diagnosis can change far more than someone's physical health. She was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, which included a golf-ball-sized tumour in her left lung. After years of unexplained symptoms and an initial misdiagnosis, her journey included advocating for answers and major lung surgery.

Throughout her cancer experience, Shay explains that she also navigated profound personal and professional losses, including the end of a relationship and losing her job.

"I felt this pressure to just be happy and grateful that I was alive — like I should be okay because I was one of the lucky ones," says Shay. "But cancer doesn't just disappear from your life when treatment ends. There’s often the lasting impact on your relationships, family and career, dealing with the fear of your cancer returning, the anxiety around scans and just everything you've been through. I've learned that you can be incredibly grateful for your health and still have bad days. It's okay to struggle, to ask for help and to talk about what you're feeling."

Now 11 years since her diagnosis, Shay is passionate about raising awareness of the often-unseen mental health impacts of cancer — from processing an initial diagnosis and navigating treatment to living with cancer or adjusting to life after it.

That passion inspired her to establish Hockey for Hope in 2023, transforming her personal experience into an opportunity to help other patients access mental health support, wherever they are in their journey.

THE LIFE-CHANGING IMPACT BEHIND EVERY DOLLAR
Through the QEII Foundation, funds raised by Hockey for Hope support dedicated mental health grants for cancer patients receiving care at the QEII Cancer Centre — including patients living throughout Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

While mental health services are available through the Nova Scotia Cancer Care Program, some patients can benefit from additional supports beyond those provided through their ongoing care.

These Hockey for Hope-funded grants help alleviate financial barriers to accessing extra resources, including private counselling, individual or couples' therapy, disease-related retreats and other mental health supports that can help patients cope with their diagnosis, manage anxiety and improve their overall quality of life.

The QEII Foundation hears firsthand the impact these grants are making for patients and families. According to QEII care providers, recent grants have helped a young mother of four access additional mental health support while receiving palliative care for advanced cancer. Another patient was able to continue seeing his therapist — support he otherwise couldn't afford while navigating his diagnosis. For a self-employed woman unable to work due to treatment side effects, funding helped her access a specialized retreat to support her mental well-being.

These are just a few of the very real needs that Hockey for Hope is helping address.

For some patients, these grants mean continuity of care during an especially vulnerable time. For others, they offer an opportunity to process a life-changing diagnosis, navigate difficult emotions or access additional support throughout treatment and recovery. And as demand for these grants continues, so does the importance of the community generosity that makes them possible.

"I think it's so important to raise awareness of just how much life can change with cancer," says Shay. "Through this fund, we want to give patients the time, space and support to work through whatever they're facing. Whether they're in treatment, living with cancer or navigating survivorship, everyone deserves that opportunity."

FOUR YEARS OF COMMUNITY. FOUR YEARS OF IMPACT.
Since Hockey for Hope first took to the ice in 2023, the event has grown from 10 participating teams to 22 in 2026 — bringing together players, volunteers, sponsors, donors and local businesses around a cause that touches so many.

This year's success included a generous $10,000 contribution from Bell Let's Talk, alongside the continued support of Sandra and Sarah Irving, who have championed Hockey for Hope since its earliest days.

The Village Taphouse in West Bedford also returned for its fourth year hosting the event's popular social, helping bring the community together for an evening of celebration and fundraising.

Behind the scenes, dedicated supporters like Jennifer Buffett have helped turn Shay's vision into reality, demonstrating the power of friendship, teamwork and a shared commitment to making a difference.

For Shay, the generosity and compassion shown by this community over the past four years have been nothing short of extraordinary.

"To every volunteer, player, donor, sponsor, local business and everyone who has supported Hockey for Hope this year and over the past four years — thank you," says Shay. "None of this would have been possible without you. Together, we've created something that's making a real difference for cancer patients, and I hope everyone involved feels incredibly proud of what we've accomplished."

That pride is shared by the QEII Foundation, which has witnessed Shay's determination grow into a powerful source of support for patients and families.

"At the QEII Foundation, we're so proud to have Shay Needham in our corner," says Laura Kennedy, Community Engagement & Events Officer, QEII Foundation. "Through Hockey for Hope, she's rallied an incredible community and helped make vital mental health supports possible for patients facing some of life's most challenging moments."

While Hockey for Hope's extraordinary fundraising milestones are worth celebrating, its greatest impact is found in the patients who continue to feel heard, supported and empowered to seek the extra help they need.

To make a donation in support of the mental health grants made possible by Hockey for Hope, visit QE2Foundation.ca/HockeyForHope.