Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - We are nearing that time of year once again to lace up the skates and head to the LECOM Harborcenter for the annual 11-Day Power Play to raise money for a number of charitable causes including Roswell Park, Camp Good Days and the Make A Wish Foundation.
Mike and Amy Lesakowski, Founder of the 11 Day Power Play talked Wednesday morning on WBEN with Susan and Brian to talk about the event that has raised over $8.4 million dollars the last 6 years.
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"We are hitting the ice on June 21 through July 1," said Amy Lesakowski. "11 days again, and we have more than 2,200 players this year, who are joining us in this fight against cancer. And we're just super excited to get going. It's been a year of planning and we're ready."
These 2,200 players will take shifts on the ice at the Harborcenter in downtown Buffalo, where, for their seventh consecutive year, members of the community will play for 11 consecutive days in shifts.
It's nonstop hockey action that has raised money to raise money for cancer research at Roswell Park, send hundreds of kids to Camp Good Days and support over 200 wishes for Western New York families through the Make A Wish Foundation.
Mike Lesakowski says this year, they're going to try to get over the $10 million dollar mark in total funds raised for the causes.
"That money goes a long way for making people live longer, making people survive. That money goes to the right places and we're really proud to continue this event every year."
Amy said there's a couple new things that will be announcing on their social media pages in the weeks leading to up to the event, particularly for opening ceremony and at the closing shifts, but the focus right now is getting people to come and volunteer.
"We have more than 350 volunteers each year that really put this event on, we're there to direct them. But without their help, we couldn't do it. We are looking for volunteers. So if you are available and would like to join us, visit 11daypowerplay.com.
We have our applications, we need referees around the clock. If you aren't an official referee, that's okay, we just need to know how to skate and know the rules of the game. There's lots of opportunity to get involved."
Amy, a cancer survivor herself, spoke specifically to what the donations have been able to fund at Roswell Park, such as the 11 Day Power Play Resource Center and the Immunotherapy Cell Lab.
"When people receive that diagnosis, it's a soft place to land and get support. We're at Roswell Park because of the donations that have come through. The immunotherapy lab at Roswell is also the 11th Day Power Play Immunotherapy Cell Lab, so we're really reaching, extreme changes in cancer care and it's because of our community."
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