(Updated 7 p.m., Dec. 4)
Benefit hockey game organized to support Navan youngster
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

Six-year-old Morgan Wall drops the ceremonial first park at a benefit hockey game held in her honour between staff and students at Heritage Public School and members of the Ottawa Police Service. Wayne Cuddington/The Ottawa Citizen.

Ordinarily when you invite Santa Claus and Spartacat to a hockey arena filled with elementary school students, chances are you would have a hard time hearing yourself think, but on a guest list that included St. Nick and the Ottawa Senator's mascot, the loudest ovation of all was reserved for a brave young girl who is battling a rare form of cancer.

Six-year-old Morgan Wall was the guest of honour at a special hockey game at the Navan Memorial Arena on Thursday between staff and students from Heritage Public School and members of the Ottawa Police Service.

Morgan was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that normally forms in the body’s soft tissue, in April after she had already suffered paralysis from the neck down. Doctors discovered two tumours near her spine during an MRI exam. After performing surgery to partially remove one of the tumours they started Morgan on a 48 week protocol which includes a series of radiation and chemotherapy treatments.

Morgan's condition and the specialized equipment needed to help her live in as much comfort as possible has put a financial strain on her parents Tania and Geoffrey, who also have a 16-month old girl named Mckenna.

In July, members of the local community organized a strawberry social which raised more than $16,000. Wednesday's hockey game raised another $2,020, which will go a long way in helping the Wall family during the holiday season.

Heritage principal Anne-Marie Currier and East District School Resource Officer, Cst. Marc Soucy co-organized the event.

Morgan arrived for the game in a specialized wheelchair, wearing her favourite colour pink and a shoudler length blonde wig. When she drove out for the ceremonial puck drop with her parents and baby sister at her side, she was met by a standing ovation from 350 fellow students, staff, parents and other supporters who had packed the arena.

A large number of the students had blue "H"s painted on their cheeks and they were waiving :"Go Sens So" signs.

Because of her illness and the treatment protocol she's been undergoing, Morgan has been unable to attend classes at the school, so most of the teachers and students were seeing her for the first time since she was diagnosed in April.

An emotional Currier said she hadn't seen Morgan since June.

"It was so wonderful to see her smiling and enjoying herself. She'a a strong little cookie I tell ya'. she's got a lot of spunk," said Currier.

Morgan was smiling from ear-to-ear throughout much of the day, especially when she got to have her pictiure taken with Spartacat and Santa Claus.

The final score in the hockey game was 9-7 in favour of the Heritage Hawks.

The win was just the icing on the cake on what was a magical day for Morgan Wall and her family.

A bank account has been set up in Morgan’s name at the Royal Bank branch in Navan. Donations to the Morgan Wall Fund can be made at the Royal Bank, 3435 Trim Rd.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)

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