Jr. Avalanche organizing events to help young player fighting cancer

WASILLA — The Junior Avalanche youth hockey association is working to help out one of its own. The organization has planned a pair of events created in support of Bradly Burden, a youth hockey player who was recently diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma.

Tonya Hoffnagle, of the Jr. Avalanche association, said the youth hockey club is hosting an auction and spaghetti dinner on Aug. 1. All proceeds will go to help Burden and his family with costs associated with his treatment. The association is also hosting a “Going Bald for Bradly” event July 14 from 4-6 p.m. at Selah Salon and Spa in Wasilla.

While the dinner and auction is the fund-raiser, Hoffnagle said “Going Bald fo Bradly” was created to help raise the spirit of the 6-year-old, who attends Cottonwood Creek Elementary.

“He’s started losing all of his hair and eyebrows,” Hoffnagle said. “He’s having a difficult time with it.”

Hoffnagle said a few of Burden’s friends said they’d shave their heads so Burden would not feel alone, and the event evolved from there.

“We brought up the idea, and more and more people stepped up,” Hoffnagle said. “Quite a number of fellow hockey players and classmates have committed to doing this. The whole thing is to help Bradly feel better.”

Hairdressers at the salon, Hoffnagle said, are donating their time to shave their heads of anyone interested in supporting Burden.

The spaghetti dinner is slated for Aug. 1 from 5-7:30 p.m. at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center in Wasilla. Hoffnagle said auction items will be at the Menard throughout the day.

Hoffnagle said the Jr. Avalanche is seeking pasta. sauce and paper product for the meal. The association is also accepting items for the auction.

The Jr. Avalanche are currently selling tickets for the dinner. For tickets or information, contact Hoffnagle at tshoffnagle@yahoo.com or 355-4950, or Aly Whitehead at alysongayle@comcast.net. P

eople can also make cash donations. Wells Fargo account, number 9553630246, has been established in Burden’s name.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.