B.C. broadcaster holding fundraiser for BC Children’s Hospital in memory of best friend

A hockey play-by-play broadcaster, Joey Pitt, is raising money for BC Children’s Hospital in memory of one of his best friends, along with the help of his BC Hockey League club.

Pitt, who works for Surrey Eagles Junior “A” hockey club, has so far raised $6,200 which will be donated to the hospital’s Wigs for Kids organisation.

“It all starts with my best friend Avery. In the summer of 2019, he had a tumor that started growing on his neck. He had it checked out and was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma,” Pitt told Global News.

“When he started treatment, I joked with him that I would donate my hair to him. When he was deteriorating in July 2022, I had the opportunity to talk to him about the fundraiser. One of the last things he ever said to me was that he was proud of me.”

The fundraiser for the Surrey Eagles runs throughout the season, with Pitt crowning the fundraiser where he will cut his long hair on March 19 during the second break on the ice.

The Eagles and Pitt’s goal is to raise $15,000 by March 19, and recently Pitt said an anonymous donor will match donations up to $5,000.

Joey’s girlfriend Avery Miller died on July 30, 2022.

Wigs for Kids BC said it has been handcuffed on how to conduct fundraisers due to the pandemic and that initiatives like Pitt’s fundraiser are important to the organization.

“We are so grateful to Joey and the Surrey Eagles hockey team for raising funds and awareness for the Wigs for Kids BC program,” said Bev Friesen, a Chair of Wigs for Kids BC.

“We’ve really struggled in the two years that we haven’t been able to raise funds due to COVID and it’s really helpful that people are doing this for us.

“We will get back on track and help BC kids and their families thanks to the likes of Joey and the Surrey Eagles organization. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

People can donate to the fundraiser through an online portal website.

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