Stingrays Lend Chiefs Helping Hand To Aid Cause

Published on February 8, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Johnstown Chiefs News Release


JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - The Johnstown Chiefs would like to thank everyone from the South Carolina Stingrays' Booster Club, staff, players, and fans for their generous donation of 275 boxes of band-aids to be donated to Brent's Band-Aids.

On December 18, 2009 the Chiefs held a benefit night to help collect band-aids for seven year old Brent Swaltek. Diagnosed with leukemia over the summer, Brent began collecting boxes of cartoon band-aids and donating them to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh to give to its patients. Brent found out, after one of his treatments, that the hospital doesn't buy cartoon band-aids because they cost more than plain ones. Since then he made it his goal to collect and donate as many boxes as possible to the hospital.

"When others outside of the Johnstown community offered to donate towards Brent's cause, the Chiefs were open to the idea and more than amazed. The Stingrays' Booster Club president Terri Mills contacted us that they had begun collecting and we were thrilled to be able to present Brent with more band-aids," said director of communication and customer relations Ray Schmitt.

Brent was presented with the donated band-aids on Saturday morning by Stingrays players Matt Scherer, Spencer Carbery, and Nate Kiser. As a special treat the players welcomed him onto their bench where Brent was able to watch their morning skate in preparation for that night's game. As nice as the Stingrays were, Brent and his family were happy that the Chiefs beat them in a shootout that night!

Now with South Carolina's help, the Chiefs have been able to donate nearly one thousand boxes of band-aids to Brent for his charity.

"With these band-aids, we are not only helping Brent, but we are helping hundreds of patients at Children's hospital in Pittsburgh. We're extremely proud of our fans and their donation efforts, but it's especially heartwarming that Brent's story touched people in the hockey community nearly 700 miles away. Hopefully the donations will keep rolling in this season and beyond," added Schmitt.

Mark your calendars! The Chiefs return to Johnstown on Sunday, February 14 against the Cincinnati Cyclones at 7:05. The Chiefs will holding a coloring contest for kids in attendance sponsored by BIC. Kids can pick up the drawings at the Chiefs' information table and color them at the game. The best judged coloring will get a great Chiefs prize. Good seats still remain and for individual tickets, go to ticketmaster.com or call 1-745-3000.

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