A forward for the Lethbridge Hurricanes is honouring his niece this season.
The Western Hockey League team has announced that for every point he records, Shane Smith will donate $25 to the Canadian CMV Foundation.
“My family and I didn’t know much about congenital CMV (cCMV) until my niece was diagnosed with it at birth,” Smith says.
“We were shocked to learn that up to one in 200 Canadian newborns are affected by cCMV during pregnancy, and that one in five cases result in a lifelong disability,” he adds.
The foundation is a national charity that works to prevent cCMV infections and boost the wellbeing of people impacted by the condition. Babies born with the illness can have brain, liver, spleen, lung and growth problems.
President and co-founder of the foundation, Rob Tétrault, says they are grateful to Smith and the team for their support.
“Congenital CMV (cCMV) is the leading infectious cause of birth defects in Canada, yet it remains largely unknown to the public, with only a small percentage of women having heard of it,” Tétrault states.
“This lack of awareness can have serious consequences for families, as cCMV can lead to lifelong health challenges for affected children. With the generous support of the Lethbridge Hurricanes, we can further our mission to raise awareness and provide vital resources to those impacted by congenital CMV.”
The Hurricanes confirmed that the donation is retroactively applied starting when Smith joined the club in early October.
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Smith has so far scored seven goals and dished out 11 assists in his tenure with the squad, meaning the total is at $450.
“We are so proud of our players and their continued leadership on and off the ice,” says the team’s general manager of business operations, Terry Huisman. “It’s great to see the initiatives they create and watching them grow as community members lending their voice and platform to raising funds and awareness for causes they believe in.”
The WHL team will match Smith’s donation during the season.
