Over the past few weeks, the St. Thomas University women’s hockey team held a raffle basket fundraiser, with all proceeds going to the Maddy Murphy Memorial Foundation (MM81).
The draw for the baskets took place on Saturday, Feb. 10, when the team took on their cross-campus rivals, the UNB REDS.
The Maddy Murphy Memorial Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Quispamsis, N.B., that raises awareness for mental health and suicide. The namesake of the organization is a memorial to the late Maddy Murphy, a young female hockey player who tragically took her own life in September 2019.
Jacey Dane, an assistant captain on the STU women’s hockey team said it was a “no-brainer” to support the the non-profit.
“We chose the Maddy Murphy Foundation because it was a local foundation that we knew would hit close to home for our team,” said Dane.
She also alluded to the fact that during her five years as a Tommie, the team has always supported the MM81 foundation in one way or another. Former Tommie Danielle Ring was good friends with Maddy. However, in the last five years, the raffle basket draw was the first time the team geared their efforts towards holding a fundraiser for the organization.
“We had a variety of baskets and it was just things that people would like. We had a movie basket. We had Tommies gear or clothing. Really, it was just any local organization that [were] willing to help out, which a lot did, which we were really thankful for,” said Dane.
“We all worked towards doing [the raffle] and it was a great success. I think everyone loved it.”
Meanwhile, Mike Murphy, Maddy Murphy’s father and president of MM81, said the foundation has been running for four years and will commemorate a milestone in a few months, as September will mark the fifth year that the Maddy Murphy Memorial Foundation has been up and running.
“[The team has] been unbelievable … Mindy and I were very, very touched with the support that the women’s [team has] put out,” said Murphy.
“We’ve been honoured, to tell you the truth, that we’ve been associated with [the team] and [are] very touched.”
Murphy believes that the fundraiser hits close to home for female hockey players, even those recruited from all over the country because his daughter also travelled for sport. Many players in the Maritimes would have played against her.
At the final regular season home game, the Tommies hosted their grad night, where the team recognized the achievements of their graduating players during their time at STU. Additionally, the team recognized the foundation and honoured Maddy’s life. Before the game, Mark and his wife Mindy dropped the puck for the ceremonial faceoff.
During the game, representatives from the organization handed out bracelets to those in attendance, which had the foundation’s logo on one side and the words “You Matter” on the other, which, according to Murphy, “sparks the conversation of what people need to talk about.”
In the end, the Murphy’s were treated to a solid game of hockey, as the Tommies defeated the Reds 1-0 in a shootout, helping the team clinch a home playoff spot in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic University Sport playoffs. More importantly, the team raised $940 from the raffle basket ticket sales.
“With our funds … we have several things that we feed,” said Murphy. “We support a conference where it’s called ‘unlock your mind’ … it’s a conference of a couple hundred people and they openly talk about mental health and it’s a way that they can actually access resources,” said Murphy.
The foundation also produces scholarships in Maddy’s name. The application includes an essay about what the student has done to help their community with mental health.
“We’re very proud to be associated with the STU Women’s Hockey team,” he said.
