PORCUPINE PLAIN – A crowd of more than 700 people gathered at the Chase Place arena in Porcupine Plain to support Madison Butler during the Dec. 22 Porcupine Plain Blues vs the Hudson Bay Hunters senior hockey game fundraiser.
Duane Thorpe, head coach and manager of the Porcupine Plain Blues senior hockey team said that he has never seen the rink that full.
“The rink was full in the stands, the lobby room and upstairs of Chase Place.”
The Blues senior hockey team organized a night the Butler and Mahussier family will not soon forget.
The Porcupine Blues announced that they would host a fundraiser game with proceeds going towards The Butler/Mahussier family.
“Madison Butler is the 14-month-old daughter of Brittany Mahussier and Cole Butler from Porcupine Plain. At just nine months old, a large brain tumor was discovered, she was diagnosed with Grade 3 Anaplastic Ependymoma (Type-A) Brain Cancer.” the Porcupine Senior Blues Hockey team said on Facebook. This type of cancer with a person as young as Madison, can not be treated in Canada. Madison’s family must travel to Chicago to receive the available treatment for her.
Madison recently completed Proton radiation in Chicago. She completed her treatments and her family was back home just before Christmas.
Brittany Mahussier said afterwards on a Facebook post, “Wow! Our family is so overwhelmed by all of the support we received from the Blues game last night. I can’t believe how many people went out last night to show their support! It feels surreal. We are so lucky to live in such an amazing community.”
There was a guaranteed 50/50 of $5,000 sponsored by Prosoils and Quickshift Mechanical, two local businesses. The grand total for the 50/50 that night ended up being $8,130 and was won by Ray Moroz who generously donated all back equally three ways between the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital, the Senior Blues and Madison.
A teddy bear toss was also organized by the Senior hockey team, community members brought a new or used teddy bear to donate to the Jim Pattison children’s hospital. The new teddies were donated to the Jim Pattinson Children’s Hospital and the used teddies were donated to the Salvation Army and Food Banks. A total of 251 teddy bears flew onto the ice within 37 seconds of the start of the game; 154 were new with the tags on and will go to the Jim Pattison Hospital and the other 97 will go to the Salvation Army/food bank.
There was also a shootout competition and Calcutta after the game. Among the items that were live auctioned were a signed Yzerman jersey, a signed Codie Prevost guitar, a framed and signed Gretzky jersey and a signed Adam Sandler hockey stick style putter, the signed Gretzky jersey was won for $4,000 and then donated back to be given to the person that they outbid, basically doubling the profits.
The Porcupine Senior Blues played an entertaining game against the Hudson Bay Hunters. The hockey game was a battle that went back and forth. The final score was 5-4 in favour of the Blues.
The total tally of all the fundraising efforts of just over $64,000 was given to Madison and her family.
“Our family is so overwhelmed with all of the support we have received over the past couple months. We are so thankful for all of your donations and in awe of the support. This will allow us to focus on the most important thing right now- Madison!” Brittany Mahussier said. “Thank you to everyone who went out last night and showed their support in one way or another. And thank you to the Blues for everything and all the hard work that went into last night. And thank you to our family and friends who went in our honour and helped with everything. Our little warrior is so lucky to have so many amazing people cheering her on. We are forever grateful for all of the support!
