PALMERSTON – Eight hockey teams are set to face off at the Palmerston and District Community Centre Complex at the end of October to benefit the Friesen family.
Arno Friesen is battling stage-three colorectal cancer and still working as a carpenter to keep the bills paid at home in Perth East.
Though the cancer hasn’t metastasized beyond nearby lymph nodes, aggressive intervention is still needed to keep it at bay.
A tumour in Arno’s colon is too large to excise, but he’s decided against chemo and radiation to knock it down because it’s too wearing.
“He’s really been struggling health-wise, energy level, strength, he’s not been sleeping well,” said Arno’s wife, Lisa.
“He’s working every day; it’s been really tough.”
Arno said he’s grateful nonetheless to be able to keep working to bring in an income for Lisa and four of their six children still living at home, instead of being bedridden.
In the fall of 2024, with the help of a GoFundMe campaign, the family travelled to the Williams Cancer Institute in California where they met a doctor who treated Arno in Mexico with an injection straight into the tumour.
The drug used isn’t approved in the United States, requiring administration in Mexico.
Taking on debt, they went for a second trip earlier this year but haven’t been able to go back since.
The doctor wanted Arno to return four more times, three weeks apart. But the family hasn’t been able to keep up with the cost: about $63,000 each trip.
“It’s just a night and day difference … there’s just no denying this huge, huge difference,” Arno said of the treatment.
Should the tumour shrink enough from the intertumoral immunotherapy in Mexico, he may be able to have surgery here to remove the cancer.
Money raised through the hockey tournament, orchestrated for the past three years by Winston Shantz, will go toward paying down medical debt and subsidizing the Friesen’s income, Shantz said.
Shantz started the tournament in 2022 to help support people facing financial struggles, largely because of health challenges.
“I think there’s strength in numbers, and especially myself being a Christian, we’re taught to share one another’s burdens,” Shantz said.
“You can look around in this world and there’s always going to be someone going through something tough in their life … there’s always going to be some need.”
In 2022, the tournament’s first year, money raised went to the Brubacher family to support then-12-year-old Trevor Brubacher, who was contending with a rare disorder causing internal bleeding of his kidneys.
In 2023, $62,900 was raised to help outfit a wheelchair accessible home for the eldest of Titus and Kristen Martin’s three children, Mya, who has a spina bifida, leaving her without the use of her legs.
“I actually helped them move into their new house … it was great to see Mya rolling around in her wheelchair in the house and being able to go upstairs and downstairs,” Shantz said.
Last year, $62,600 was raised for Conrad and Amanda Klippenstein, who were newly married when Conrad was involved in a crash that left him with a severe brain injury.
Now in its fourth year, Shantz’s tournament returns the Palmerston and District Community Centre Complex from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1 to benefit the Friesens.
“It’s first of all going to reduce a lot of financial stress; we were kind of just blown away when we got the call,” Arno said.
“We quite honestly just go by faith; we’re asking the Lord to go above and beyond and provide for us,” Lisa said.
Shantz is inviting the community to come to catch a game, grab a bite to eat and donate toward a $60,000 fundraising goal.
The event takes place Oct. 31 from 7 to 11pm, with snacks and drinks served until 10pm. A ceremonial puck drop is set for 8pm.
On Nov. 1, hockey games run from 8am to 7pm, with a barbecue, snacks, beverages and bake sale.
Eight previously selected teams will be whittled down throughout Friday and Saturday until two face off in a final game on Saturday evening.
“It’s been really cool to see this tournament bring the community together in support of one goal and support each person’s journey,” Shantz said, adding the support makes a “lasting impact in each person’s life for years to come.”
Cash donations will be accepted at the tournament.
Donations can also be e-transferred to winston.shantz78@gmail.com.
