- Posted on July 24, 2025
Chiarot and community help WRHN Foundation hit major milestone with Scotland’s Yard Road Hockey Classic: tournament surpasses $1 million raised for local kids’ cancer care
News Release
Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont. | July 24, 2025
Detroit Red Wings defenceman Ben Chiarot and other hockey stars returned to their Southern Ontario roots last Saturday to help a local hospital foundation hit a major fundraising milestone for children with cancer and other serious illnesses.
The annual Scotland’s Yard Road Hockey Classic – an initiative co-chaired by Chiarot and his wife Jacqueline to support pediatric cancer care at Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN) – netted $153,000 on July 19 to bring the total from the event to more than $1 million since 2022.
Nearly 100 teams raised money for kids care at WRHN, the recently merged Hospital in Kitchener-Waterloo. Funds were also raised on site at the event through sales of Scotland’s Yard merchandise, beer, and other activations, including a silent auction.
Both the Detroit Red Wings Foundation and NHLPA supported the event with a donation.
“Hitting that $1 million milestone is a huge accomplishment that will directly benefit kids who need it most across this community,” said Chiarot. “I’m fortunate to be able to use my platform as a hockey player for something good like raising money for children’s care. Everyone who came out to the event stepped up and helped make a difference.”
Chiarot and other notable pros, including Kevin Klein, Gregory Campbell, Mike Hoffman, Loren Gable and Laura Fortino, helped coach some of the 96 teams through their games Saturday. The players mingled with kids and their families, signed autographs and posed for selfies – all for a good cause.
Hosted by the new WRHN Foundation, the Scotland’s Yard Road Hockey Classic is part of a larger campaign to bring more comprehensive pediatric cancer care to WRHN.
WRHN @ Midtown is home to one of the largest Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) clinics in the province, serving children and families for more than 25 years. Many children are initially diagnosed out of region and return home for local care – but they still face frequent travel for scans and specialized treatments. The Scotland’s Yard campaign aims to change that.
“Events like this are so important because the cost of medical equipment isn’t covered by the Ministry of Health,” says Ashley Howat, VP of Strategic Initiatives, WRHN Foundation. “So each team that fundraised, each pro who came out to support, it all impacts the way WRHN can deliver kids’ care.”
The Chiarots partnered with the hospital foundation to help launch the tournament years ago after their friends’ daughter, Scotland (Scottie), was diagnosed with cancer at three months old. Now a healthy five-year-old, Scottie had to travel outside the region for treatment and continues to receive some follow-up care in Hamilton.
“Four years into this tournament, the passion we see from our community just keeps growing,” says Jacqueline Chiarot. ”No family should have to leave their community to receive world-class healthcare during the unimaginable – and thanks to everyone’s support on Saturday, we are closer to that goal. Surpassing $1 million is a significant milestone – but we’re just getting started.”
For information on how you can support cancer care at WRHN, visit wrhnf.ca.
Images available for download. Please credit: Waterloo Regional Health Network Foundation
WRHN Foundation media contact:
Melissa Couto
Communications Specialist
About Waterloo Regional Health Network Foundation
Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN) Foundation raises funds to support life-saving care at Waterloo Regional Health Network. WRHN Foundation works in partnership with our community to help elevate the healthcare experience of WRHN patients and staff.
Thanks to generous support from donors, we raise funds for vital equipment, programs and resources at WRHN that are not covered by the Ontario Ministry of Health.
Learn more at WRHNF.ca
About Scotland’s Yard
Scotland’s Yard is a community initiative focused on augmenting care closer to home for children with cancer and other serious illnesses. Inspired by Scotland, a young cancer survivor, a group of dedicated friends and neighbours are working to raise $50 million in support of Waterloo Regional Health Network projects that will help children and their families access more care locally.
Learn more at scotlandsyard.ca | Instagram: @scotlandsyard_
About Waterloo Regional Health Network
Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN, pronounced wren) represents the merger of two Hospitals into a single, integrated healthcare organization. Built on over 90 years of partnership, WRHN is home to seven regional programs and comprehensive healthcare services to meet the current and emerging needs in Waterloo-Wellington and beyond. WRHN is redefining the healthcare experience through collaboration and innovation, addressing barriers to access, advancing care delivery, and setting new standards in compassionate, empowered, community-driven healthcare. At WRHN, every patient is at the centre of everything we do as we strive to improve lives, inspire healing, and build healthier, stronger communities.
Learn more at WRHN.ca
