Jeff Bottari / NHLI via Getty Images
Shea Theodore of the Vegas Golden Knights escorts his grandmother Kay Darlington to center ice to perform the ceremonial puck drop before a game against the San Jose Sharks at T-Mobile Arena on Nov. 21, 2019, in Las Vegas.
Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020 | 4:29 p.m.
Just over a year ago, Shea Theodore stood in the locker room at City National Arena and stressed the importance of early cancer screening.
The Golden Knights defenseman had been diagnosed months prior with testicular cancer and said catching it early let him get a handle on it before it turned more serious.
Today, Theodore turned those words into action.
Along with Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada, he announced the creation of Kay’s Power Play, a fund to pay for preventative cancer care for women without insurance coverage.
The fund is named after Theodore’s late grandmother, Kay Darlington, who was a breast cancer patient at Comprehensive.
Darlington dropped the ceremonial puck with Theodore at her side for the Nov. 21, 2019, Hockey Fights Cancer game at T-Mobile Arena.
“This fund will help those in need of financial assistance and help them stay ahead of any cancer diagnosis,” Theodore said in a statement. “Early detection is critical in saving lives from this terrible disease.”
Theodore and Comprehensive contributed $50,000 to the fund, which will be part of Susan G. Komen Nevada.
The fund will be available to the uninsured, underinsured, patients under 40 and those whose mammograms are not covered by insurance.
According to Comprehensive, Nevada’s rate of mammography is 5% below the national average of 72%. It expects about 2,300 new cases of breast cancer to be diagnosed in Nevada this year.
“We have witnessed firsthand that Shea’s passion for helping the Southern Nevada community is right up there with his passion on the ice,” Jon Bilstein, CEO of Comprehensive, said in a statement.
“In our efforts to help folks stay one step ahead of a cancer diagnosis, he is a valuable teammate. Kay’s Power Play will help enhance Nevada’s preventative landscape and, ultimately, save lives,” he said.
The fund will also help create a “Mammo Cup” after next year’s Stanley Cup Final in which Southern Nevada women will be encouraged to get a mammogram and spread the word to other women.
