Local hockey products affected by testicular cancer raising awareness through Half Sack Sports

“He said ‘yeah, I love it’, and what happened was Dylan wanted to help raise awareness and help people who are going through the same thing.”

Since then, Tait has been raising awareness about testicular cancer locally and one of the ways has been through the creation of Half Sack Sports.

Their mission statement is to normalize the discussion of testicular cancer and bring awareness to its prevalence.

Hamilton says Half Sack started last year but it was just something that was very small.

“Basically, his goal was to start a brand to help raise awareness and to give back to the community and people who have been going through the same things. He bought around a hundred shirts last year and what he did was for every two shirts he sold, he gave one away to someone who was dealing with something similar,” Hamilton said.

Brock Hirsche, another former UofL Pronghorn, was diagnosed with testicular cancer November 2015 and through his second round of treatment, it was deemed unsuccessful.

Half Sack Sports is helping to raise funds and spread awareness through selling T-Shirts so the UofL can create an award in his name.

Hamilton says he has more of a business background and told Tate he wanted to get involved if he would have him.

“We both decided that we were going to do something for Brock, and that is was going to be our number one priority to get that hockey award in his name,” he continued. “In total, we wanted to raise, about $25,000, including through the U of L.”

Shortly after Hirsche was diagnosed, Hamilton says he didn’t respond well to treatment, and unfortunately, the doctors said the cancer was potentially terminal.

“We want to get this scholarship, well they call it an award, but basically it’s a scholarship every year so someone new can continue to spread his legacy after that time does come for him,” Hamilton stated, adding 100 per cent of the first 75 items sold on their website will go to Hirsche.

After that, Half Sack will donate $5 of every item they sell to someone in need going through something like what Hirsche is going through, according to Hamilton.

The Canadian Cancer Society says that testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men between the ages of 15 and 29.

“Due to that, and because of how close to home it hits, our main focus is on the social aspect of continuing to raise awareness but eventually we do want to be a viable name brand business as well,” Hamilton said.

There’s no time frame set on raising money for the Brock Hirsche Pronghorn Hockey Award, and Hamilton says Half Sack Sports alone has already raised $2,000.

“I’m not sure what the number is at for the U of L, I think they’re close, so with our $2,000, we’re closing in. The more money we raise, it allows us to not only support Brock but to be able to give more to students, too,” Hamilton added.

While Tait started Half Sack last year, Hamilton says it’s really only been in the last two weeks that they’ve launched the website and started to kick their online presence up a notch.

“Even the Facebook site has only been put up recently. I think we’re doing OK to start it off anyway, we’re happy that we’ve been able to raise some money for Brock and like I mentioned that’s our number one goal right now.”

Brandon Davidson, currently playing in the NHL for the New York Islanders, is from nearby Taber and was diagnosed with testicular cancer in November 2012.

He’s been cancer free since 2013, and Hamilton says he’s pushing to help spread the word as much as possible.

“It’s nice to see someone like that who’s been through it still wanting to spread the word. If you catch the cancer early, then it’s very curable,” Hamilton stated.

Half Sack is hoping to eventually spread the awareness campaign to local sports teams as well, whether it be hockey, or volleyball, or anything else.

“I don’t know how long-term a goal that may be but that’s what we’re committed to doing. Players on those teams would be around the age where it’s important to get checked. So, whether it’s providing them with workout gear or underwear, which is another thing we’ve been thinking of obviously because it fits with our name, we’ve got some ideas moving forward.”

April is testicular cancer awareness month, so Hamilton believes it’s as good a time as any to get the word out.

Anyone interested in learning more can visit Half Sack Sports website here.

by Aaron Mahoney (@Mahones93 on Twitter)

Local hockey products affected by testicular cancer raising awareness through Half Sack Sports

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