Ben Stelter Fund launched to provide magical experiences and fund children's cancer research
A new fund is hoping to honour Oilers superfan Ben Stelter's legacy and provide kids with cancer better opportunities for care.
Launched Thursday, the new charity comes almost a year ago to the day that he first met his hero Connor McDavid.
McDavid and the man who connected him and Ben, Ashif Mawji, have already pledged $100,000 to the fund, which focuses on providing magical experiences for kids with cancer, providing needed medical equipment at home, and supporting medical research.
Ben died in August from brain cancer. He became a household name after he was featured as a skater before an Edmonton Oilers home game in March and joined Zach Hyman at a post-match press conference.
He then popularized the phrase, "Play La Bamba, baby!" during the Oilers' latest playoff run.
Since Ben's passing, local entrepreneur Mawji has worked with his parents, Mike and Lea Stelter, to find a way to commemorate his kindness.
"We wanted to find a way to preserve the legacy," Mawji told CTV News Edmonton. "To make it even more powerful. Ben has done so much for all of us, not just in Edmonton but around the world."
Lea says Ben was always focused on giving to others, including restocking a treasure chest at the hospital where kids could get a toy after getting their blood work done.
"He loved giving gifts at the hospital," she recalled. "He was the sweetest boy."
"He would buy toys with his own money at the store and be like, I need to bring this one," Mike added. "He was full of love."
Mike and Lea Stelter speak with CTV News Edmonton on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022.
His parents shared that creating a foundation to help the community is the ultimate gift Ben would want to give.
"Life has been really tough since Ben passed," Mike said.
"This is the one big thing that we can put time and energy into where it gets us out of bed in the morning," he added. "To be able to do this in his name and have his name continue to live on."
Both Mike and Lea say they were taken by surprise to see how much of an impact Ben's story made on many people, especially those going through radiation therapy.
They would receive messages and hear from adults who were struggling with going to treatments but were ultimately inspired to after hearing about the five-year-old's determination.
"It honestly brought us so much hope and positivity," Lea said.
To donate, visit the Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation website.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Jessica Robb
Correction
An earlier version of this story stated Connor McDavid had pledged $100,000. In fact, McDavid and Ashif Mawji together have pledged $100,000.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Loblaw ends No Name price freeze, vows 'flat' pricing 'wherever possible'
Loblaw will not be extending its price freeze on No Name brand products, but vows to keep the yellow label product-pricing flat 'wherever possible.'
Discovery in Canadian lab could help laptop, phone and car batteries last longer
A chance discovery in a Canadian laboratory could help extend the life of laptop, phone and electric car batteries.
Woman detained in Syria says Ottawa is forcing her to make agonizing choice in order to get her kids to Canada
A woman held in a detention camp in Syria, along with her three Canadian children, says the federal government is forcing her to make an agonizing choice: relinquish custody of her kids so they can be repatriated to Canada, or keep them in the camp where the conditions are dire. Her children are eligible for repatriation but she is not a Canadian citizen.
15 students in Mexico treated after taking part in online 'challenge' involving tranquilizers
Fifteen grade school students in Mexico have been treated after apparently taking part in an internet 'challenge' in which groups of students take tranquilizers to see who can stay awake the longest.
Cheaters beware: ChatGPT maker releases AI detection tool
The maker of ChatGPT is trying to curb its reputation as a freewheeling cheating machine with a new tool that can help teachers detect if a student or artificial intelligence wrote that homework.
Still no answers on yearslong bread price-fixing scandal: law professor
More than five years since Canada’s Competition Bureau began an investigation into an alleged bread-price fixing scheme, no conclusions have been drawn nor charges laid. As the watchdog is now probing whether grocery stores are profiting from inflation, one expert says the effectiveness of its tools are in question.
Jeopardy! dedicates entire category to Ontario but one question stumps every contestant
Jeopardy! turned the spotlight on Ontario on Monday night with a category entirely dedicated to the province. One question stumped every contestant.
U.S. launches second USMCA dispute panel as dairy battle with Canada goes to Round 2
The United States is filing another formal dispute over what it considers Canada's failure to live up to its trade obligations to American dairy farmers and producers.
Boeing bids farewell to an icon, delivers last 747 jumbo jet
Boeing bids farewell to an icon on Tuesday: It's delivering its final 747 jumbo jet.
Calgary
-
First affordability payments delivered, long-term solutions needed: recipients
The first instalment of the province’s affordability payments has been automatically deposited into the bank accounts of Albertans already receiving income supports.
-
Calgary MP says Liberal government wasted millions on quarantine hotel stays
A Calgary MP says she's learned the Liberal government gave more than $6.7 million in taxpayer money to a local hotel designated as a "quarantine hotel," but only 15 people stayed there in 2022.
-
'It's a backwards move': Canada Post closes office in small Alberta town
Residents in a hamlet east of Calgary will now need to drive out of town to pick up their mail after Canada Post decided to close the community's post office.
Saskatoon
-
'I feel we are forgotten': Saskatoon long term care residents speak out about staff shortages
Residents of a Saskatoon care home are speaking out about staff shortages and broken equipment in their facility.
-
Saskatoon landlord expects family of man killed in apartment to clean up his blood
Thirty-seven-year-old Adam Willet was found dead in his apartment on 7th Street East in December, and his family says they are now on the hook for cleaning the suite.
-
Saskatoon healthcare workers launch petition for safer parking
The Service Employees International Union West (SEIU-West), which represents some Saskatoon healthcare workers, has launched a petition calling for safer parking.
Regina
-
'It puts us on the map': Assiniboia draws in visitors to new $18M hockey arena
The Town of Assiniboia is living up to its nickname as the 'Heart of the Golden South' with its new rink attracting visitors from across southern Saskatchewan.
-
'A bit of a wild card': Team Muyres ready to make Tankard debut in Estevan
The SaskTel Tankard Provincial Men's Curling Championships kicks off in Estevan this week and newly formed Team Muyres is ready to make their mark.
-
Riders release defensive lineman A.C. Leonard
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have released defensive lineman A.C. Leonard.
Atlantic
-
Wind chill explained and what to expect late week in the Maritimes
A blast of Arctic air will combine with northwest gusts to make it feel like -35 degrees or colder for parts of all three Maritime provinces Friday night into Saturday.
-
Shoplifting surge: Numbers increase in Maritimes as economy sours
New shoplifting numbers from Statistics Canada show significant increases in the Maritimes.
-
911 issues caused by change to 10-digit dialing in New Brunswick: Bell Aliant
911 emergency calling in all three Maritime provinces has been fixed following service issues Tuesday morning.
Toronto
-
Family slams 'unconscionable' actions of TD Bank after 95-year-old woman withdraws $10K in scam
The family of a 95-year-old Ontario woman tricked into withdrawing $10,000 in the middle of a major snowstorm said it's 'absolutely unconscionable' that bank employees allowed her to take out the money without contacting her power of attorney.
-
Baby located at Markham hotel with critical injuries; man in custody
York Regional Police say they are investigating after a baby was seriously injured in Markham on Tuesday afternoon.
-
Toronto woman faces eviction after 36 years in same home because mother dies
A Toronto woman is calling on her landlord to show human compassion and not evict her out of the place she’s lived for the past 36 years because her mother died.
Montreal
-
Man accused of beating Montreal girl, 10, declared high-risk offender
A man who brutally attacked a 10-year-old girl in Montreal's Pointe-aux-Trembles neighbourhood last spring was declared a high-risk offender by a judge Tuesday.
-
WEATHER
WEATHER | Polar vortex to bring coldest air in years to parts of Quebec
So far, the winter season across Southwestern Quebec has been marked by above-average snowfall and above-average temperatures, but that is about to change. Cold, arctic air has been gradually pushing into the province.
-
NDG tenants upset by renovations kicking them out of indoor parking garage
Tenants living in an apartment building in NDG are upset that major renovations will cut them off from their indoor parking lot for several months.
Ottawa
-
Ottawa police arrest suspect in south-end homicide
A 45-year-old man was killed and a woman was hospitalized in a stabbing at a south end apartment overnight, police said. A 37-year-old suspect has been arrested.
-
City crews working around the clock to remove snow
Ottawa is grappling with a lot of snow this winter and the city is working hard to keep up with removing it all.
-
Ottawa-area man's wheelchair lost for four days after Sunwing flight home
An Ottawa-area man wants answers from Sunwing Airlines after his wheelchair was lost for four days following a flight home.
Kitchener
-
WRDSB trustee takes issue with board’s public response to 'child abuse' claim
A Kitchener public school board trustee has released an open letter of dissent, arguing a recent communication to parents from the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) may have a “chilling effect” on those who may wish to voice concerns in public forums.
-
Queen Victoria statue consultation wraps up first stage with City of Kitchener
The City of Kitchener says they have wrapped up the first phase of consultation regarding a controversial statue in a public park.
-
OHL Bulldogs could be calling Brantford its new temporary home
The Hamilton Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) is considering temporarily relocating to Brantford Civic Centre while their home ice undergoes major renovations.
Northern Ontario
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Sudbury school board makes decision on drag event
After putting the brakes on a planned event involving high-profile drag queens at a Sudbury high school two weeks ago, the Rainbow District School Board has made a final decision about it.
-
Blind River man charged again in ongoing neighbour dispute
Charges are being laid for the third time in connection with an ongoing dispute between northern Ontario neighbours, police say.
-
Preston Pablo of Timmins receives three Juno Award nominations
Preston Pablo, 21, of Timmins is a singer, songwriter and musician who's been nominated for three Juno Awards.
Winnipeg
-
Arson causes $7M in damage at Manitoba business
RCMP in Headingley say a fire at a business in the RM of Rosser that caused millions in damage was a case of arson.
-
New proposed long-term care standards call for better staffing, more direct care
New standards for long-term care homes are being rolled out across Canada in an attempt to avoid a repeat of the tragedies that unfolded during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
-
Jeopardy! dedicates entire category to Ontario but one question stumps every contestant
Jeopardy! turned the spotlight on Ontario on Monday night with a category entirely dedicated to the province. One question stumped every contestant.
Vancouver
-
Flipped cars, dozens of crashes as snowfall snarls Fraser Valley traffic
A blast of winter weather made for a messy commute in the Lower Mainland Tuesday morning.
-
1 dead, 1 injured after vehicle 'lost traction,' rolled down Chilliwack embankment, RCMP say
A woman is dead and a man has been airlifted to hospital after a serious crash on a snowy road in Chilliwack Tuesday afternoon.
-
Black History Month proclaimed in City Hall as Vancouver kicks off 12th official annual celebration
Celebrations for Black History Month kicked off in Vancouver City Hall with a proclamation ahead of Tuesday’s council meeting.
Vancouver Island
-
B.C. man facing extradition to U.S. for alleged sex crimes against stepdaughter
A Vancouver Island man is awaiting possible extradition to the United States on charges of sexual assault against his 13-year-old stepdaughter.
-
First Nations women overrepresented among B.C. toxic drug deaths: doctor
The top doctor at British Columbia's First Nations Health Authority says Indigenous people, especially women, are dying from toxic drugs at disproportionately high rates as the overdose crisis continues “unabated,” nearly seven years after the province first declared a public health emergency.
-
Nanaimo RCMP seek man who threw coffee at McDonald’s employee
Mounties are asking the public for help identifying a man who allegedly threw a cup of coffee at a McDonald's employee in Nanaimo, B.C.