UWODSS ODA Cup fundraising for the DOCS program
Due to the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the pandemic this year’s ODA Cup did not happen. The match was to be held in London on April 4th and would have seen the University of Toronto’s Dental Hockey Club square off against Western’s Mighty Dents. The event has taken place for the past 12 years and been a “can’t miss” event during the academic year for the 500+ spectators in attendance – including students, faculty, and families of both schools. With the addition of an alumni game this year’s ODA Cup was set to be the biggest event yet.
Although the players did not make it onto the ice, the event was still able to raise over $10,000 for its designated charities by way of sponsorships, contribution from the Ontario Dental Association, school alumni, & through student ticket sales. Over half of the donation was a result of some incredible sponsors who were determined and still able to contribute during these hard times – Hu-Friedy, Amity Technologies, and BDO Canada LLP. All funds raised were donated to the Dental Clinic at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto, and the Dental Outreach Community Service (DOCS) program here in London. These programs provide dental treatment for underserviced and marginalized populations in their respective locations and serve as role models in the dental community. The DOCS program has strong ties with the Mighty Dents as its founder, Dr. Ken Wright, serves as honorary coach for the team and attends all of the games each year. It was very important for the Mighty Dents to make this donation during a time when it is perhaps more vital for the continued success of the program than ever before. The ODA Cup may not have been brought back to London like we had hoped, but this was still a big win for the team.
