Kimmett Cup laces up to raise $500,000 for The Children's Wish Foundation

CALGARY, Jan. 14, 2015 /CNW/ - On January 16 and 17, hockey players of all ages and abilities will take to the ice in Cochrane to help grant the most heartfelt wishes of children living with life-threatening illnesses. The 7^th annual Kimmett Cup pond hockey tournament is partnered with The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada for the second year and has set a goal to raise $500,000, which will grant the wishes of approximately 50 deserving children. The tournament has sold out, with 48 teams and 400 participants going head-to-head in friendly competition over the two days at Mitford Ponds and Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre.

Kimmett Cup is hosted annually in honour of Dr. Lindsay Kimmett, who lost her life in a distracted driving accident in 2008. To learn more about the Lindsay Leigh Kimmett Memorial Foundation and their various fundraising initiatives, visit www.lindsaykimmett.org.

Nine-year-old Paxton's most heartfelt wish will be granted by Children's Wish when he travels to the big island of Hawaii with his entire family. In 2013, Paxton's world was turned upside down when he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. To celebrate the completion of his chemotherapy treatments, Paxton received a pair of skates from his parents, which he has been eagerly breaking in at Mitford Pond while he practices for the tournament. Paxton will be joining fellow wish children and Children's Wish staff on the team Rebels WITH a cause this weekend. Paxton's love of hockey makes him the perfect ambassador for Kimmett Cup 7.

"When Paxton goes to hockey games, he won't be able to talk for days after because he screams and cheers so much," says Paxton's mom. "He just goes nuts for hockey!"

The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada
Each year, thousands of Canadian children between the ages of three and 17 are diagnosed with a life threatening illness.  Since 1984, The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada has worked tirelessly to grant exceptional wishes to over 21,000 children and their families.

This year, the Foundation expects to grant over 1,000 new wishes and is proud to have never refused a wish to an eligible child, and with the help of volunteers and generous donors, is able to grant nearly three wishes every day.  Each wish is an individual adventure, carefully structured to meet the needs of a particular child and family. The Foundation is a national charity with chapters in every province and territory. Visit www.childrenswish.ca for more information.

SOURCE The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada

Image with caption: "Nine-year-old Paxton, Kimmett Cup 7 ambassador. Photo: Children's Wish Foundation. (CNW Group/The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150114_C6686_PHOTO_EN_10207.jpg

Kimmett Cup, Jason Baserman, Kimmett Cup Committee Chair, [phone], [email protected]; Reid Kimmett, Kimmett Cup Committee Chair, [phone], [email protected]; The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada, AB & NWT Chapter, Tamille Beynon, Communications Coordinator, [phone], [email protected]