Keira's Story

At 5 years of age Keira joined the game of ringette for the first time and never looked back. The speed, the competition, the strategy, the camaraderie - all were elements of the game that Keira absolutely loved. A tenacious competitor, Keira was a team player who enjoyed setting up plays as much as scoring a goal. At the young age of 10, Keira was diagnosed with an aggressive brainstem tumour.

Tragically, in June 2017, Keira was taken from us just six short months after her diagnosis. Keira’s battle with cancer did not stop her from putting other people first. Her care and compassion for others prompted her to start Keira’s Krusade (www.keiraskrusade.com), an organization created to help support others diagnosed with cancer.

During times of tragedy sport often brings people together, and our ringette community did not disappoint. People immediately reached out and Keira’s Winter Klassic (KWK), a tournament that combined things Keira truly loved: ringette, Christmas and helping others, was born.

The inaugural KWK in 2018 raised over $37,000 and to date we have raised over $100,000 with 100% of the proceeds going to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation via Keira’s Krusade to help fight pediatric brain cancer.

Learn the full story about Keira, Keira’s Winter Klassic and why SJRA rebranded as the BOOM!