April 9, 2025
U荔枝视频 students and faculty hit the ice to support cancer research
A sold-out crowd cheered as 荔枝视频 medical students and faculty took to the ice for a friendly hockey game at the 荔枝视频 Flames Community Arenas.
, a charity event organized by a team of students from the Cumming School of Medicine鈥檚 (CSM) aims to unite people through the Canadian spirit of hockey, all in support of cancer research.
"We're excited to say we surpassed our donation goal of $100,000 for the Neri/Bahlis lab at the 荔枝视频,鈥 says first-year medical student Joseph Carere. 鈥淎fter funds were generously matched by the Canadian Cancer Society, we raised over $130,000.鈥
All about the patients
Carere, co-chair of the Stick it to Cancer organizing team, says it hit him as he laced up his skates that this was more than a game.
鈥It was amazing to be both a player and Stick it to Cancer team member on game day. Looking out into the stands from the bench I was proud to see how different communities from around 荔枝视频 came together to support multiple myeloma and cancer patients.鈥
The funds will go towards supporting the at the . Led by clinician-scientists Dr. Paola Neri, MD, PhD, and Dr. Nizar Bahlis, MD, the program is focused on developing personalized cancer treatment and identifying mechanisms of drug resistance.
鈥淢ultiple myeloma is a blood cancer. It鈥檚 the second most common hematological disease after lymphoma,鈥 says Neri, associate professor in the Department of Oncology, CSM. 鈥淭he reality of myeloma is that it鈥檚 still an incurable disease. Therefore, it鈥檚 very important to understand more about myeloma biology and discover new therapies for these patients.鈥
Aiming to improve outcomes for those affected by this disease, Neri and Bahlis have also established the Myeloma Genome Sequencing Unit, dedicated to the study of the myeloma cell genome, transcriptome, and epigenome.
A time to raise awareness
Members of the Stick it to Cancer event team.
KmmC Photography
March was Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month in Canada, a time to raise awareness about this bone marrow cancer, highlight ongoing research efforts, and support individuals and their families impacted by the disease.
The March 22, 2025 on-ice showdown between medical students and faculty shared research participant stories, advocated for awareness and raised funds through generous donations, ticket and merchandise sales, and a silent auction.
鈥淭he event was inspired by similar events in Eastern Canada,鈥 says Grace Liu, BHSc鈥23, first-year medical student and marketing director for Stick it to Cancer. 鈥淭hrough our love of hockey, the team of medical students who organized this event have been able to give back to the community while supporting multiple myeloma research and care here in 荔枝视频.鈥
April is also Cancer Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness, funding research, and supporting all those affected by cancer in Canada.
Learn more about the
Paola Neri is an associate professor in the Department of Oncology at the CSM and a member of the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute. She is a medical oncologist and co-director of the Cancer Translational Research Core (CTRC) at the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre.
Nizar Bahlis is an associate professor in the Department of Medicine at the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) and a member of the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute. He is a hematologist and attending physician in the Division of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation at the Foothills Medical Centre.