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Beyond the numbers, the emotional core of the event was most evident during the luminary ceremony and open mic. As candles lit up the space, students shared stories of loss, survival, and resilience. “We thought we might need someone from our team to start the open mic, but once one person stepped up, others followed and it became something powerful,” the organizers said. “It showed how many people have a personal connection to the cause, how willing they are to share in a supportive space, and how strong the sense of community is.”

Cure Cancer Classic: rivalry fuels record-breaking fundraising

Days earlier, on March 12, the (CCC) transformed Slush Puppie Place into a sold-out arena of 5,000 fans. Organized by co-chairs Sarah Muxlow and Sarah Loveridge, both fourth-year commerce students, the commerce vs. engineering charity hockey game, culminating a season of fundraising, raised $721,875, already surpassing previous records, with donations still coming in.

Tickets for the game sold out in just four hours, with lines wrapping around campus buildings on release day. Inside the arena, the energy reflected the deep-rooted rivalry between faculties, with engineering ultimately claiming a 4–3 victory.

But the most powerful moment came before the puck dropped. As the lights dimmed, attendees were asked to turn on their phone flashlights if they had been affected by cancer and within seconds, the arena filled with thousands of lights. “Standing at center ice, we looked around and saw nearly every person in the crowd holding up their phone,” the co-chairs said. “It was an incredibly moving reminder that cancer has touched so many lives, and that no one is alone.”

That sense of unity, paired with faculty pride and fundraising competitions, helps drive the event’s success. Students don’t just compete on the ice, they compete to raise more, rallying their peers and networks to get behind their faculty teams.

Student-led giving supporting Queen’s research

With additional donations still coming in, the combined total for the two events has now surpassed $1 million. Proceeds support the Canadian Cancer Society, which advances research and patient care through Queen’s investigators at the and the .

While their formats differ, one an overnight relay, the other a high-energy hockey game, both are driven by student initiative and community support. Their success reflects a broader culture at Queen’s, where students lead with creativity, determination, and purpose. That momentum extends across campus, with other student-led initiatives continuing to rally their communities in support of cancer research.

The , organized by medical students, raised more than $60,000 following its March 7 matchup at Slush Puppie Place.

The turns the engineering and commerce rivalry into an annual basketball fundraiser, alongside a 3-on-3 tournament, and has raised more than $500,000 since 2021.

has raised more than $100,000 since 2019 and has grown into a national initiative through Soccer for Cancer.

“All of these student-led initiatives are much more than fundraisers,” says Patrick Deane, Principal and Vice-Chancellor. “They are a powerful demonstration of community, compassion, and collective impact, a testament to the remarkable leadership, generosity, and drive of students to unite around a shared cause.”