Sideline Cancer Purple Puck Night 2026 | Celebrating Our Recepients
Some nights are about the scoreboard.
Some nights are about rivalries.
And then there are nights that remind us what truly matters.
Purple Puck Hockey Night is one of those nights.
Last winter, during the Hollidaysburg vs. State College hockey game, the community came together for something far greater than the game itself. Through the Sideline Cancer Patient Assistance Program, $3,350 was raised to support six-year-old Hadley Reed and her family as they faced the unimaginable. It was a powerful reminder that when students, schools, businesses, and community organizations unite, hope can rise even in the darkest moments. In the months following Purple Puck, the Sideline Cancer Patient Assistance Program continued to spread awareness and raised a total of $10,950 for Hadley and her family in their time of need.
Because this was never just about hockey.
This was — and always will be — #BiggerThanHockey. This year on February 7th, 2026 Purple Puck Night donations will go to the Sideline Cancer Patient Assistance Program.
TO DONATE
TEXT TO GIVE | 44321 : Type Sideline Cancer & text to 443-21
VEMNO SIDELINE CANCER | @gff-sidelinecancer : DONATE TO SIDELINE CANCER | VENMO
DIRECT ON WEBSITE : DONATE TO SIDELINE CANCER
Hadley’s Fight: A Childhood Changed in an Instant
In December 2024, Hadley’s family heard words no parent is ever prepared for:
“Hadley has leukemia. You need to get to Children’s now.”
Just weeks before, Hadley was a healthy, active little girl. Suddenly, her world — and her family’s — shifted overnight. Hospital bags were packed in a rush. Christmas plans disappeared. Her parents said goodbye to their other children, not knowing how long they would be gone.
What followed were days in the PICU, chemotherapy treatments, blood and platelet transfusions, sleepless nights filled with beeping monitors, and moments of pure heartbreak — including hearing a six-year-old worry about losing her hair and being laughed at by others.
Yet through it all, Hadley showed strength far beyond her years.
She wanted to play.
She smiled when she could.
She fought — every single day.
One year later, the journey continues. Maintenance treatments, frequent hospital visits, chemo schedules, spinal taps, and the constant fear that never truly leaves. Her parents carry both overwhelming gratitude and deep grief — thankful she is still here, while mourning the childhood cancer has taken pieces of.
Hadley is a fighter.
She is strong.
And she is deeply loved.
Everleigh: When a Best Friend Knows Exactly What to Do
One of the most powerful parts of Hadley’s story isn’t just her fight — it’s her friendship.
Hadley and Everleigh met in kindergarten. They had only known each other a few months when Hadley was diagnosed, but they were inseparable almost instantly — the kind of friendship that feels like it was meant to be.
When Everleigh learned that her best friend had cancer, she didn’t hesitate.
She knew she had to help.
So she turned to the people she knew could make a difference — the “purple shirt people.” Everleigh asked her mom if she could reach out to Sideline Cancer to help Hadley.
At such a young age, Everleigh already understood something powerful:
community matters — and Sideline Cancer helps when families need it most.
Those who know Cathy and Jordan Griffith, founders of the Sideline Cancer Patient Assistance Program, know the purple shirts well. They symbolize connection, compassion, and action. They represent a mission that brings students, sports, and communities together to support families facing cancer — right when help matters most.
When Awareness Turns Into Action
The moment Everleigh’s mom reached out, Sideline Cancer sprang into action.
By sharing Hadley’s story and spreading awareness through its network of schools, students, and supporters, Sideline Cancer helped ignite a powerful ripple effect. What started with one young girl wanting to help her best friend quickly grew into a community-wide response.
Local organizations, businesses, schools, and individual community members stepped forward — donating, fundraising, and offering support in countless ways. Because Sideline Cancer amplified Hadley’s story, others were inspired to act, ensuring the Reed family felt surrounded by care, compassion, and tangible support during their hardest days.
This is the heart of the Sideline Cancer Patient Assistance Program — not just raising funds, but connecting people, mobilizing communities, and reminding families they are never alone.
A Proven Mission With Real Impact
The Sideline Cancer movement is built on more than just good intentions — it is built on measurable, life-changing impact.
Through the Greg & Cathy Griffith Family Foundation, more than $300,000 was donated to pancreatic cancer research from 2011 through 2020, honoring Greg’s legacy and commitment to finding a cure.
In 2021, that mission expanded with the creation of the Sideline Cancer Patient Assistance Program, designed to help families facing the financial hardships that come with a cancer diagnosis. Since then, students, schools, and communities have rallied together through Sideline Cancer events, merchandise, and donations to provide direct support when it matters most.
From 2021 through 2025, the Sideline Cancer Patient Assistance Program has provided $250,000 to 70 cancer patients across 25 schools and universities in Central Pennsylvania and beyond — families just like the Reeds, who needed help at the exact moment life changed forever.
Purple Puck Hockey Night: The Impact You Make Possible
Thanks to the incredible support from Warrior Sports Physical Therapy, the seniors of Hollidaysburg Area School District, and so many generous community partners and individuals, Purple Puck Hockey Night raised $3,350 for Hadley and her family.
That support helped ease the financial burden that often accompanies a cancer diagnosis — covering everyday expenses that don’t stop when life is turned upside down.
This is exactly why the Sideline Cancer Patient Assistance Program exists — to step in during the moments families need it most and to rally entire communities around them.
Looking Ahead to 2026: Join Us in Making a Difference
On February 7, 2026, Purple Puck Hockey Night returns — and this year, all proceeds will directly support the Sideline Cancer Patient Assistance Program.
These funds will help cover the administrative and operational costs of running the program — the behind-the-scenes work that makes everything possible. From coordinating families in crisis to working with schools, students, and sponsors, these resources allow Sideline Cancer to move quickly, spread awareness, and deliver help exactly when it’s needed most.
By supporting Purple Puck 2026, you are not just funding one night — you are sustaining a program that continues to lift families like Hadley’s all year long.
We are now seeking sponsors and donors who believe in the power of awareness, community, and action. Your support ensures that when the next Everleigh reaches out — when the next family hears devastating news — Sideline Cancer is ready to respond and mobilize help immediately.
Together, we can:
- Support families facing financial hardship due to cancer
- Empower students to lead with compassion
- Connect schools, businesses, and community organizations for good
- Prove that sports can be a force for impact far beyond the scoreboard
Believe Always. Together We Can.
Hadley’s story is one of courage.
Everleigh’s story is one of compassion.
Purple Puck Hockey Night is a story of community.
And the next chapter starts with you.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, making a donation, or learning how you can support the 2026 Purple Puck Hockey Night, please contact:
Cathy Griffith
[email protected]
Because when we believe always —
together, we can help families like Hadley’s when they need it most.
TO DONATE
TEXT TO GIVE | 44321 : Type Sideline Cancer & text to 443-21
VEMNO SIDELINE CANCER | @gff-sidelinecancer : DONATE TO SIDELINE CANCER | VENMO
DIRECT ON WEBSITE : DONATE TO SIDELINE CANCER
Check out Hadley & Everleigh’s story on WTAJ here : Bigger Than Hockey: Duo to raise money for cancer patients at hockey game
