Tiny Fighters

Keeping up with three sports-minded daughters would test the mettle of even the most energetic father. Michael Bess wouldn't have it any other way.

He's a proud hockey dad. While his daughters participate in several sports, hockey holds a special place in his heart. As Marketing Director for Steel Ice Center, Michael has seen firsthand the camaraderie, sportsmanship and resilience the game inspires in young athletes. More importantly, he values the lessons sports teach about character, compassion and community.

Those values inspired Michael to organize the first-ever Steel Ice Tiny Fighters Cup to benefit St. Luke's Children's Hospital Neonatal Instensive Care Unit (NICU). The tournament's mission was simple: Playing for a Purpose.

More than 200 hockey players, ages 5 to 12, representing 70 organizations from 10 states, came together for a weekend of competition and giving back. Over 39 hours of hockey, the teams scored an impressive 623 goals. But Michael had another goal in mind.

"I wanted to help the kids see that doing good can be good fun," he says.

And they certainly “did good.” Through tournament activities, merchandise and food sales, social media appeals and the generosity of participants and supporters, the Tiny Fighters Cup raised $19,000 for St. Luke's tiniest fighters and their families.

For Michael, the challenges faced by families with babies in the NICU are deeply personal. The loss of his twin sons and his family's experience in a neonatal intensive care unit inspired his desire to support others facing a similar journey.

Katelyn Wiswall, a neonatal nurse in St. Luke's NICU, understands that motivation.

"NICU families face a host of needs, physical, emotional and psychological," says Katelyn. "There are also practical challenges, including travel, time away from work, caring for children at home and preparing for the ups and downs of having an early or critically ill newborn. The generosity of donors helps us support a multitude of needs for our families and babies during some of the toughest times of their lives."

While the pain of losing a child never goes away, Michael and his family believe helping others can be healing.

"Some of the participants were once tiny fighters themselves," Michael says. "While they may never see the impact of their hard work, when they saw the number on that giant check, they knew they did good. I truly couldn't be more proud to see their efforts benefit the great work of the team helping families at St. Luke's."

While the players may never meet the families they are helping, every child who took the ice proved that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a remarkable difference. Through the generosity of Michael Bess, his teammates and everyone who supported Tiny Fighters, children and families facing their toughest battles will receive the compassionate care and support they need. St. Luke's is grateful for their commitment to proving that doing good truly is good fun.