I could use your help.

I’ve done many charity events in my lifetime, but this one hits close to home for me, and I’d like to tell you why.

Later this month, I’m going to be skating in a 3x3 ironman style hockey tournament in Simi Valley, CA., Saturday, August 27 to raise money for “Face Off With Cancer”, a local non-profit dedicated to raising funds to help members of the local hockey community and their families who are currently battling cancer.

As many of you may know, hockey is a great passion of mine — but I started playing hockey late in life…just about 6 years ago. In my quest to figure out how to actually skate and play hockey, I accidentally discovered Hockey Alley, a local training facility close to my office. Jack Mildengren, Hockey Alley’s founder, has been my trainer since 2010, helping me learn how to skate and improve at all the skills necessary to play the sport. He has been a kind, patient and devoted teacher who genuinely wants all his students to learn and progress. He never for a minute let me believe that starting later in life would prevent me from being competitive in ice hockey. In fact, because of his dedication and encouragement, in 2015 after five years of training, and having never skated before 2010, I was able to travel to Wisconsin and compete in the Women’s C Division at USA Hockey Nationals.

Hockey Alley is a family.

Hockey Alley is a small business, right here in Newbury Park, CA., dedicated to teaching kids and adults how to play hockey. They operate out of a small business park, not an ice rink (you’d never know they were there!). They’re a family run business…Jack’s father Steve, and mother Rosemary help run the business that they started over 25 years ago, originally from their garage in Van Nuys, CA. Yes, they had ice in their garage! When you walk inside Hockey Alley, you’re greeted with pictures of all the kids they’ve trained over the years, plastered on the walls with their various thank you messages. Hockey Alley is a unique place, and people have come to Hockey Alley from many parts of the world to work on their game. Hockey Alley is really just an extended family of people who love the game.

Jack and Steve have taught thousands of local kids how to play hockey in the many years they’ve been operating Hockey Alley.

They need our help.

Early last year, Jack and his wife, Sarah, gave birth to their first child Mattias, and not long after Mattias was born, Sarah was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer. Needless to say, it’s been a very tough time for them, trying to raise a new son, and deal with fighting cancer and keeping their family-run business going at the same time.

This year, Sarah Mildengren will be one of the direct recipients for this Face Off With Cancer 3x3 hockey tournament, as she continues the battle for her life.

This is a link to my fundraising page and more details about the event and FOWC organization: https://www.classy.org/fundraise?fcid=670763.

If you’re so inclined, I would appreciate any donation you may be able to contribute. I would also very much appreciate your sharing this link with your own friends and family and spreading the word about the event in any way that you are able to.

If you’re local, come and watch me play hockey that Saturday (or if you are interested in volunteering that weekend, get in touch)!

Thank you so much for allowing me to share this with you.

Dina

TL;DR: Please donate if you can, and help spread the word: https://www.classy.org/fundraise?fcid=670763