15-year-old Blues fan illustrates Hockey Fights Cancer puck

Will Vonder Haar, a 15-year-old battling acute myeloid leukemia, has illustrated a Hockey Fights Cancer puck that will be sold at the Dec. 1 game vs. Carolina.

Will's illustration will be autographed by players and sold at random at the Blues for Kids section outside Portal 15 on Thursday for Hockey Fights Cancer, benefitting Siteman Cancer Center and Blues for Kids.

"We've been helped by so many people throughout this journey - the nurses, the doctors, they're all amazing and he knows that," Will's mom, Adrienne, told stlouisblues.com. "I think, once he did it he felt really good about it. That feeling alone is huge, that feeling of contributing in a way when you're so sick - then you feel like you can do anything."

Will, who is from Fenton, MO, was diagnosed with AML in July and has been undergoing chemotherapy treatments with the support of his parents and three sisters. Will and his family chose to highlight as many different cancer causes as they could on his puck design, designating each letter of the word "FIGHTS" in "HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER" with a color that represents different forms of cancer.

Yellow, which represents all forms of childhood cancer, was chosen for the letter "F". "I" was colored red to represent blood cancers like leukemia while also encouraging others to donate blood and platelets.

"We're always encouraging friends and everybody to give blood because it's just a huge, life-saving gift," said Adrienne. "You don't even realize when you're giving it how much it means."

Will colored the "G" green in support of those battling non-hodgkin's lymphoma, the "H" orange to support others battling AML like himself, the "T" grey in support of brain cancer causes, and the "S" teal for ovarian cancers.

The Vonder Haars have personal connections to these causes, which include other patients they've met in the hospital and friends and family who have shown their support during Will's battle.

Will and his family hope that visibility for these different forms of cancer can inspire people to donate and support those facing similar fights.

Though originally a baseball fan, Will and his family began watching Blues games this season at the hospital during his treatments.
Will's puck illustration is just one way the Blues are raising money for Hockey Fight Cancer at Thursday's game. Players will also wear special warm-up jerseys - which feature Will's design - during pregame warm-ups on Thursday. The jerseys will be auctioned online at blues.givesmart.com to benefit Hockey Fights Cancer.

In addition, the team will recognize several fans and/or staff who have been battling or have battled cancer prior to and during the game.