For the third straight year, Ashley Barton is organizing a women’s hockey fundraiser inspired by her mother, Judy, who died of ovarian cancer
The Sault’s Ashley Barton is once again spearheading an annual hockey game to raise funds for ovarian cancer research.
A group of local women will face off at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 23 at the Northern Community Centre’s Rink 1 for the third annual Hockey Fights Ovarian Cancer.
“This is the third year that I’ve been doing this ovarian cancer fundraiser hockey game and over the three years we’ve raised over $10,000,” Barton told SooToday.
For this year, $3,645 has been raised so far.
Funds go to Ovarian Cancer Canada for ovarian cancer research.
The annual games strike a personal chord for Barton.
Her mother Judy died of ovarian cancer April 8, 2020.
“My mom and I watched both NHL and women’s international hockey together. She came to my games throughout my childhood and adulthood,” Barton said.
Moms and daughters will be taking to the ice for the Hockey Fights Ovarian Cancer game.
Most recently a goaltender in the Sault Ste Marie Women’s Hockey League, Barton has played all positions on the ice over a 30-year period.
Due to an injured ankle, she won’t be participating in this year’s game.
“I’ll drop the puck at the beginning of the game but I won’t be playing this year. I played in the first two games in the first two years, but I won’t be playing this year because my ankle’s just not strong enough yet,” she said.
Twenty-eight players, enough for two teams, have signed up for this year’s game.
Barton said she would like to see more players join so that a tournament can be held next year.
A registered nurse who works for Health 811, Barton said a cure for ovarian cancer is of course the ultimate goal but agreed screening for the disease would be a good first step in the right direction.
Current procedures such as blood tests and ultrasounds have not been able to detect ovarian cancer in its earliest stage.
“There’s screening for cervical cancer, there’s screening for breast cancer. There’s got to be some research to find a way to screen for ovarian cancer,” she said.
Because ovarian cancer symptoms are vague – such as abdominal pain – and easily mistaken as signs of other illnesses, as many as 80 per cent of cases are not diagnosed until they have reached advanced stages.
“If you’re a woman having any kind of abdominal symptoms, get to the doctor. Don’t wait,” Barton said.
If a doctor suspects ovarian cancer, a woman should be referred to a gynaecologic oncologist for diagnosis through surgical biopsy, says Ovarian Cancer Canada.
More information on ovarian cancer symptoms, research and fundraising, visit the Ovarian Cancer Canada website.
To donate funds through the local Hockey Fights Ovarian Cancer game, click here.
There are no tickets to buy for the hockey game but attendees may donate to the cause by putting money into a collection box as they enter the NCC rink.
“I’m just trying to do my part by spreading awareness and raising money for an ovarian cancer cure so other people don’t have to go through what my mom went through and what my family has gone through,” Barton said.