Family and friends of Matt Cook packed the Bill Hunter Arena Saturday night to play a game in his honour.
More than 200-supporters come out for the fundraiser, which featured a hockey game between four Midget Triple "A" hockey teams. Money raised at the event is going to the Matt Cook Foundation, which will be used to fight rare cancers.
"We are extremely grateful for everyone's involvement," said Brady Cook, Matt's brother. "This is really going to help us out with our foundation."
Cook lost his four year battle to cancer earlier this year in April. The hockey player dreamed of becoming a Paralympian after he lost his leg to bone cancer in 2006. Cook continued on with his hockey career, excelling in the sport of sledge hockey. He earned a spot on Team Canada to compete in the Vancouver 2010 Paralympics but his health began to decline.
He died at the age of 22 years old.
"His philosophy was that you should make the most of every day," said Lynn Cook, Matt's mom. "And he lived that, 100 %."
"He was there to play hockey," said event organizer Bob Olynyk. "His slogan is ‘Fight Like Matt' and he was a fighter all his life."
This was the first Matt Cook Foundation fundraiser. Organizers say they hope to make it an annual event.
