Pucks fly as veterans raise funds for cancer

Pucks were flying when members of a local hockey club held a charity match and raised £350 for Grimsby hospital.

Members of North East Lincolnshire Veterans Hockey Club held the event to raise money for the Amethyst fund at the Health Tree Foundation, the official charity of Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital.

The club, whose members are all aged over 35, challenged a team of local twenty-something year old players with everyone paying to play and take part.

The charity match, which is in its second year, was held in memory of former player Steve Trott who sadly lost his life to cancer in June this year.

Steve was initially diagnosed with cancer in 2009 and had his kidney removed, but the cancer later spread and he began chemotherapy in 2011.

Steve’s partner Helen Fletcher said: “We joined hockey to do something together. Unfortunately it was not long after that we found out Steve had cancer. He encouraged me to keep playing. He fought the cancer for so long; he had 71 individual sessions of chemotherapy.”

Chair of the club Chris Guilliatt said: “We obviously chose Amethyst because of Steve. He played a few times before he was diagnosed and regularly came along to our social events. We’re really pleased to have raised so much money.”

Amethyst ward sister Kate Williams said: “Thank you so much for this donation, it is really appreciated. It is wonderful that people want to raise money for us.”  

The veterans hockey club play every Thursday between 5pm and 6pm at Orimiston Maritime Academy in Grimsby.