Bruce Vance’s Story

 

Hockey has played an important role in the lives of the Vance family. Like most hockey families, they volunteered a lot of their time at the rink, and in return, their team kept showing up for them.

Bruce and Liane Vance’s daughter, Jessica, started playing hockey with the U18AAA Prince Albert Northern Bears in 2010. Her parents joined her as the co-managers of the team the following year.

When Bruce was diagnosed with cancer in November 2013 and had to have 24 cm of his colon removed, the Northern Bears wanted to show their support by wearing special Team Bruce jerseys. Eight months and 12 chemotherapy treatments later, Bruce was in remission, but their cancer journey was far from over.

Bruce began experiencing back pain in 2020. Diagnostic testing showed that his cancer had metastasized to his lungs, liver, and ribs. When both radiation and chemotherapy treatments were unsuccessful, Bruce decided to stop treatment and enjoy life to the fullest.

Bruce wasn’t the only one to go through the Cancer Centre. Between his recurrences, Liane fought her own cancer battle.

Given the hours that Bruce and Liane had volunteered and the fact that Jessica was a team alumnus, the Northern Bears wanted to do something special for the Vance family.

On September 30, 2023, the team dedicated a game to Bruce – they recreated their “Team Bruce” jerseys and auctioned them off. Over
$23,265 was raised and shared between two causes near to the family’s heart: the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan and the Boreal
Hospital Foundation.

Bruce says, “I saw how many people go through the Cancer Centre and the needs of those families. I just wanted to help others.”

Thankfully, no one fights alone. The Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan is here to help, and if you’re very lucky, a team of Northern Bears too.

 

 

This story is included in Your 2023-2024 Donor Report alongside many inspiring stories of generosity. Read Your 2023-2024 Donor Report