Hockey Fights Cancer provides hope for Manitoba children with cancer

At just 15 years old, Azen is battling cancer for the second time in his life. He was first diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) at the age of 8, and when he recently found out that his cancer had returned, he said to his mom, "I beat it the first time, I'll beat it the second time."
When he was 8, Azen became ill, and after weeks of going back and forth from the doctor to figure out what was wrong, his mother drove from Brandon to Winnipeg on Christmas Day and took him to the emergency room. She knew something wasn't right with Azen's health. At the hospital, Azen underwent blood tests and within two hours, they received devasting news - a cancer diagnosis.

Azen was admitted to the hospital and started chemotherapy the next day. For the next three and a half years, he went through many rounds of chemotherapy, often needing to take breaks from treatment when his blood counts were low. Hospital stays and blood transfusions became a regular part of life for Azen and his mom. He stayed strong through it all and then received the good news that his cancer had gone into remission.
It was less than three years later in March 2022 when Azen was having a routine doctor's appointment and blood work that they received the shocking news that his leukemia had relapsed. The news left him and his family feeling completely blindsided. At the time, Azen appeared to be healthy and there were no signs that something was wrong.
Doctors anticipate that Azen will be 18 years old by the time he has completed his current treatment regimen. It's hard for him and his mom to be away from his siblings and the rest of his family during his many hospital stays and trips to Winnipeg for treatment.
Azen keeps his spirits high by doing things he loves - playing video games, enjoying the outdoors, riding dirt bikes, spending time with family, and of course cheering on the Winnipeg Jets.
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This November marks the Winnipeg Jets' 11th Hockey Fights Cancer (HFC) campaign. Jets fans have generously raised more than $1 million over the previous 10 HFC campaigns to help local kids just like Azen receive care in Manitoba. Fans can support this year's campaign in numerous ways at Jets games and from home, including by purchasing
HFC Raffle
tickets for one of eight warmup-worn or issued Jets HFC jerseys, or by donating at
biggestfans.ca
or texting CARE to 20222 (to donate $10 or $20).