Warawa Family Goes the Distance to Support Ben Stelter Fund

Warawa Family Goes the Distance to Support Ben Stelter Fund

Michelle Pinon News Advertiser

It was a whirlwind of a weekend for the Warawa family as they juggled playoff hockey games in between shifts at the Kids World’s Longest Hockey Game in support of the Ben Stelter Fund.

The Warawa’s, who reside near Mundare, travelled back and forth from their home to playoffs to Saikers Acres near Sherwood Park for the Kid’s World’s Longest Hockey Game that was held for 50 continuous hours from March 3-5.

Denise Warawa stood alongside the boards of the outdoor rink Sunday afternoon watching her 15-year-old son Riley playing in net for team Cure while husband Ryan was busy officiating. She explained that Ryan had played in the adult version of the World’s Longest Game back in 2021 during a brutal cold snap that saw temperatures dip to minus 50 degrees Celsius.

In the thick of the action.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

Denise said Ryan was instrumental in participating the first ever kids edition and asked Riley if he wanted to get in on the action. Riley didn’t hesitate to say yes, even though it meant a lot of travelling and very little sleep. “It’s been a very nice experience,” added Denise with a smile.

It was very much a family experience as Riley’s sister Madison was in the crowd along with her grandparents Delores and Dan Warawa. Riley’s cousin Colby Warawa, who plays for the Vegreville Vipers, also came to watch the action along with teammates Braden Van De Kraats, Ryan Drake and Colton Lebid-Pham.

Colby said it was Colton’s idea to attend the game and they brought $200 in donations that were collected during their home game the previous evening. The players said they were happy to play a small part in such a “great cause” and to “help support” kids with cancer.

Vipers General Manager Bryan Brown said Ben’s grandpa Ron Lawrence and himself were best friends and neighbors for Ben Stelter Fund years when they were living in Edson. Although Lawrence now lives in Houston, Texas, “We keep in contact all the time.”

Brown said, “This cancer event is dear to me as both of my parents were victims of cancer and taking their lives, and if I can make an impact with the Vipers organization I will do what I can to help always.”

Denise said cancer hits close to home as her sister died of cancer and her fatherin-law Dan has battled cancer. “It’s an awful disease.” She said treatment for the kind of cancer Ben Stelter had, (glioblastoma) has not changed in 50 years and only a minimal amount of money goes into pediatric cancer research.

Ben’s parents Mike and Lea are hoping to change that through their son’s memorial fund. They also hope the kids’ game will become an annual family event. Even though donations are still trickling in, more than $250,000 was raised for the

Ben Stelter Fund during the Kids World’s Longest Hockey Game.

Proceeds from the game help fight glioblastoma and other types of cancer.

The four pillars of the Ben Stelter Fund are:

• Help create magical experiences to create life-long memories with their families

• Purchase medical equipment to reduce the financial burden for families that require advanced medical equipment at home for their kids

• Invest in outcome based research to find better treatments and possible cures for Glioblastoma and other pediatric cancers.

• Invest in unique, creative, innovative entrepreneurial projects and entities that help with cancer treatments and potential cures.

The Stelters shared Ben with so many people last spring as he became a goodluck charm and inspiration to his beloved Oilers and team Captain Connor McDavid. To the public, he’s remembered as the brave boy who won over Oilers fans and the hockey world at large for the way he faced cancer.

Ben passed away in August of 2022 at six years of age, but his life and legacy will continue on forever.