The game of Kan Jam was invented in the late 1980’s in the Buffalo suburb of North Tonawanda. For years, it’s been a way for family and friends to have fun with a frisbees and a pair of cans where the object is for one teammate to throw the flying disc and the other to direct it into the can. The beauty of the game is that it could be played just about anywhere including the beach, a parking lot, your front lawn and a gym.
And also, a dek hockey rink.
Kan Jam is also a beautiful thing when the fun of playing also raises money for a worthy cause.
Islanders Captain Anders Lee has been a “jambassador” for the “Jam Kancer In The Kan” Foundation since 2016 and through his efforts more than $500,000 has been raised from fundraising events held in local communities and NHL cities across the country.
This past Saturday, Lee, along with some help from his teammates as well as many Islanders fans, held “Anders Jam IV”, his first post-pandemic Kancer Jam at the Islanders’ Northwell Health Ice Center practice facility in East Meadow. The sold-out event, the first that Lee has held on Long Island, raised more than $140,000 to help local families who are facing off against the awful disease that is pediatric cancer.
It was an afternoon of fun that took place on the outdoor dek hockey rink in front of the Ice Center. The duo of Anthony LaRocco and Dave Spataro teamed with Islanders defenseman Dennis Cholowski to win the tournament. They defeated Ryan and Sean Horbach, teamed with Islanders forward Hudson Fasching, in the final round.
For those who could not attend the event, there is still a way to help the cause.
The foundation’s on-line auction will be live through this Wednesday September 20th at 3pm at this link…
ANDERS LEE KANCER JAM AUCTION (networkforgood.com)
The auction prizes include…
*A round of golf with Anders Lee and Mat Barzal
*A signed guitar by Jon Bon Jovi
*An evening for 8 people at an Islanders game with Jon Ledecky in the owner’s suite
*A Belmont Park Groundbreaking Hockey Stick signed by Anders Lee.
For more information on “Jam Kancer In The Kan”, please visit their website at www.JamKancerInTheKan.com.
From a personal standpoint, my family and I can tell you that this is a great organization doing great things. My son Bradley chose Jam Kancer In The Kan for his Mitzvah Project in 2018 and the foundation supported Bradley’s Kancer Jam that raised a lot of money for the Pediatric Cancer Center at Winthrop Hospital on Long Island.
Kan Jam can be a lot of fun but it can also be used for a great cause.
Through the efforts of Ander Lee and everyone at Jam Kancer In The Kan including Jamey Crimmins who launched the foundation in 2014, “Anders Jam IV” was a smashing success with hours of fun and a lot of money raised for families affected by pediatric cancer.