WHL Wenatchee Wild

Wild Announce Pair of "Movember" Fundraisers for Men's Health

Published on November 1, 2023 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release


WENATCHEE, Wash. - As the holiday season arrives in the Wenatchee Valley, the Wenatchee Wild are hoping to make it a November to remember on the ice, and a "Movember" to remember off of it.

The Wenatchee Wild have launched a pair of fundraising teams for "Movember," a month-long event celebrated worldwide to bring awareness to men's health issues, such as prostate and testicular cancer, and suicide prevention. Participating Wild players and staff will grow mustaches to show their support and raise money for the cause, which aims to increase early cancer detection, diagnosis and effective treatments, and ultimately reduce the number of preventable deaths. Since its inception 20 years ago, the Movember Foundation has raised more than $911 million and helped to fund 1,250 men's health projects in more than 20 countries.

Wild defenseman Graham Sward is leading one of the team's fundraisers, as part of his third "Movember" fundraiser - Sward was named the U.S. Division's Humanitarian of the Year for the 2021-22 season as a member of the Spokane Chiefs, starting his first "Movember" fundraiser after losing his grandfather to cancer during the season. That fundraiser yielded $3,100, more than four times Sward's original fundraising goal. His fundraiser last year netted almost $2,300.

"I'm raising funds and awareness this 'Movember' for all the granddads, dads, brothers, sons, coaches and teammates in our lives," said Sward. "After losing my grandpa just over two years ago to cancer that started in his prostate, I decided to join the Movember campaign in his honour so that other kids like me can have a couple more fishing trips."

Wild head coach Roy Sommer's son Moe is also leading a "Movember" fundraising team known as the Wild Crusaders, participating alongside the NCAA Division I men's hockey team at Holy Cross, where his brother Castan is an assistant coach. Wenatchee fans are encouraged to support and contribute to both fundraisers, as the money from each goes to the same outstanding cause - as most players on the Wild roster taking part in the fundraiser are Canadian, money raised by Wild players will be converted to Canadian dollars, but fans will have no trouble donating to either fundraiser regardless of which side of the border they do their banking on.

To contribute to the fundraisers and learn more about the Movember Foundation, visit wenatcheewildhockey.com and click on the "Movember" link under the "More" menu.

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