HAVERHILL — More than 500 women will hit the ice this weekend with a goal of raising money for cancer survivorship services in the Merrimack Valley.
The annual Cross Check Cancer Women’s Hockey Tournament will take place from Aug. 9 to 11 at the Valley Forums in Haverhill and Lawrence. The cancer survivorship program is designed to help adults transition to a post-cancer life.
Games will also be played at HockeyTown U.S.A .in Saugus.
The women’s tournament was founded by Keri Capobianco in 2016. Capobianco started and runs the Women’s Hockey League of Boston, which calls Haverhill, Methuen and Peabody rinks home. The league is a place where women ages 18 to 60-plus of different skill levels can play hockey.
The tournament is open to all women, who travel from all over New England to participate.
All proceeds benefit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Adult Survivorship Program, which offers those 21 years old and older access to services that help adult patients find expertise, education and any support they may need.
Women who’ve survived cancer or are in treatment have participated in the event over the years, Capobianco said.
She was drawn to supporting the Dana-Farber program because it’s designed to help people get back to their passions after cancer, whether that’s hockey or another activity. It also places an emphasis on nutrition, exercise and women’s health issues.
The tournament’s creation was led by a grassroots effort by Capobianco and women from the WHL of Boston eight years ago. In 2016, they were happy to raise $5,200, Capobianco said.
Now, there are 40 teams signed up for the three-day event and funds raised have grown each year since that first tournament. In 2023, the teams raised more than $65,000. To date, they’ve been able to donate $179,000 to the survivorship program.
“It’s grown dramatically,” Capobianco said.
“You don’t see that often where 100% of the proceeds goes to Dana Farber,” tournament participant Christine Ray said. “It’s amazing what Keri (Capobianco) has been able to do with this tournament, especially managing 40 teams at three different rinks.”
Ray, 59, of Bolton, is one of the many women who travels each year to play in the tournament. She’s played in all eight tournaments so far and her team is ready for the next one.
Ray first learned to skate at age 43 and has been hooked on hockey ever since. But the summer games mean more than lacing up the skates to her.
“It’s so much more than hockey,” Ray said. “It gives women a chance to get together and reconnect and do some good at the same time.”
Ray has known Capobianco for several years by playing hockey with her. Ray formed a tournament team in 2016 to support her friend and has watched as the fundraiser grew to hundreds of women bonding over their passion for the sport as a way to help the cancer community.
“It’s supporting cancer survivors and being able to play hockey and doing something healthy for ourselves at the same time,” Ray said.
The goal is to surpass last year’s fundraiser and cross the overall $250,000 mark in its ninth year.
“We’re always trying to outdo ourselves,” Capobianco said. “We want to hit $70,000 this year.”
The three rinks are sure to be busy as games are set from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., but Capobianco said she wouldn’t have it any other way.
The busyness means women are getting involved and doing their part to continue to benefit the mission of the tournament – cross check cancer.
“Now we are able to connect these women who share the same passion for hockey and do some good in the world at the same time,” Capobianco said. “It’s a fantastic feeling.”