A sold-out crowd cheered as University of Calgary medical students and faculty took to the ice for a friendly hockey game at the Calgary Flames Community Arenas.
Stick it to Cancer, a charity event organized by a team of students from the Cumming School of Medicine's (CSM) Undergraduate Medical Education program, aims to unite people through the Canadian spirit of hockey, all in support of cancer research.
Members of the Stick it to Cancer team and the Neri and Bahlis lab are presented with a cheque at the charity event. Photo Credit: Stick it to Cancer
"We're excited to say we surpassed our donation goal of $100,000 for the Neri/Bahlis lab at the University of Calgary," says first-year medical student Joseph Carere. "After funds were generously matched by the Canadian Cancer Society, we raised over $130,000."
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.
"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 Calgary came together to support multiple myeloma and cancer patients."
The funds will go towards supporting the Multiple Myeloma Research Program at the Arnie Charbonneau Cance Institute. 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.
"Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer. It's the second most common hematological disease after lymphoma," says Neri, associate professor in the Department of Oncology, CSM. "The reality of myeloma is that it's still an incurable disease. Therefore, it's very important to understand more about myeloma biology and discover new therapies for these patients."
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. Photo Credit: 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.
"The event was inspired by similar events in Eastern Canada," says Grace Liu, BHSc'23, first-year medical student and marketing director for Stick it to Cancer. "Through 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 Calgary."
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 Multiple Myeloma Research Program.
