Jeff Skinner has, for many years, been heavily involved with a multitude of cancer-fighting initiatives both on a team and personal level and wanted to share this special HFC message for fans:

Being a professional athlete gives me the opportunity to connect with kids and their families struggling to cope with this horrible disease.

I consider it a privilege.

It is a privilege because I get to see firsthand the strength of the human spirit, the true love and support of family and the power of courage and perseverance.

I have vivid memories of these brave children who smile and laugh and play while they brush aside as a mild inconvenience the tubes, the wires and the IVs attached to them. And I have images of the contrasting grim expressions of their parents whose lives have been turned upside down. They worry and they try to cope. My heart goes out to all these kids and their families, and to everyone affected by cancer.

I pray for their return to good health; to allow the kids to reclaim their childhood; for their parents and everyone else affected to get their lives back to normal.

To all of them I would say, hang in there, be strong and keep fighting and always remember that this is something that you can win.

- Jeff Skinner, for NHLPA.com