Hockey Fights Cancer

It’s that time of year again.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month has us seeing pink–everywhere– and hopefully taking a second to check ourselves and talk to our loved ones about our health.

It’s also the prime-time fundraising month for  partner organizations such as Susan G. Komen For the Cure, the Prevent Cancer Foundation, The American Cancer Society, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Medical Women’s Associations, and more.

This is a cause that should be near and dear for all of us– it can affect ourselves, our mothers, sisters, grandmothers, aunts,  and even fathers.  So, when we see our favorite athletes in shades of pink, it is empowering. And also,  it’s a little dreamy seeing our favorite hockey players in pink, or even lavender as they’ve chosen in recent years.

We want to support them supporting our cause.

It’s more than just a color. It’s more than just a hashtag, #HockeyFightsCancer. It’s health. It’s lives. It’s solidarity.

And this year’s NHL #HockeyFightsCancer gear is out.

As you’ll see on its gear pages, the website label promotes as NHL Breast Cancer Awareness Gear.

There’s great merchandise, too, a variety for all the teams,  men, women, and children. The merchandise itself all sporting the Hockey Fights Cancer “brand.”

And, the Hockey Fights Cancer page reads that a decent portion of sales goes to the National Hockey League Foundation, which manages the NHL’s charitable happenings. It gets $7.26 for the $75.00 Vineyard Vines tie, $2.24 for the $23.95 Reebok Men’s Player Cap, $2.61 for the $26.95 Ladies’ Charm Bracelet, and $5.27 for the $23.95 Old Time Hockey shirts.

Those portions will be donated to the NHL Foundation’s charitable organizations. What’s interesting is that none these charitable organizations are listed for breast cancer.

The NHL lists its Hockey Fights Cancer partners as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Prostate Cancer Canada, ZERO — the End of Prostate Cancer, the Pancreatic Cancer Network, and Movember.

They are all honorable organizations, and worthy causes. There are no doubts about about their significance whatsoever. Every form of cancer deserves a fight.

But none listed go hand in hand with Breast Cancer Awareness Month. So, why is the site labeled “NHL Breast Cancer Awareness Gear”?

I’m awaiting response from the NHL about this. They ask for a 48-hour window of reply.

I’d happily donate to any of the above-mentioned causes, and I am glad that Hockey Fights Cancer partners with them. I’m just unsure about the connection to Breast Cancer Awareness Month made on their gear page.

I think everyone making a charitable donation should know where their support is going.

Since the NHL Foundations is a Private Foundation, it isn’t part of the Charity Navigator rating system’s guide to intelligent giving.