90 Players Skate 24 Hours Straight for Kids with Cancer

At 1 a.m. on a Sunday morning, most people were asleep, but at Michigan State's Munn Ice Arena, 90 exhausted hockey players were still skating hard for kids fighting cancer.

The 24-hour hockey marathon started at 2 p.m. Saturday and didn't stop until 2 p.m. Sunday. Players sacrificed sleep, battled fatigue, and pushed their bodies to the limit, all to raise money for families affected by pediatric cancer.

Dan Vieira founded the nonprofit LivFree nine years ago after his daughter Lauren survived pediatric cancer. The organization started hosting 24-hour hockey games two years ago in Connecticut, and this Michigan State event marked the first marathon outside their home state.

The players came from all backgrounds. Some wore full hockey gear while others, like content creator Jacob Ardown, played in jeans and a red cowboy hat. Those who played the entire game logged seven hours of actual ice time, grabbing quick naps on locker room couches or in their cars between shifts.

Communication sophomore Joaquin Robinson gave his Michigan State club hockey jersey to young cancer survivor Brody Schmanske during a ceremonial puck drop. "That's what I would want if I was a kid," Robinson said simply.

The arena stayed mostly empty throughout the night, but every goal brought cheers and stick taps from the handful of dedicated supporters. The final score reached 178 to 168, and every single goal brought the players closer to their fundraising target.

The Ripple Effect

Before the first puck even dropped, the event had already raised enough to help 35 Michigan families dealing with pediatric cancer. Players skated past posters showing the faces of kids battling cancer, constant reminders of why sore muscles and sleepless nights didn't matter.

LivFree now operates seven host sites for 24-hour hockey marathons across the country. Vieira's vision keeps growing as more communities discover they can use hockey to make a real difference for kids fighting the toughest battle of their lives.

Chemical engineering senior Claire Leonard arrived with fresh legs at 10 a.m. Sunday and plans to return next year. Robinson, running on just 40 minutes of sleep, is already recruiting more teammates for the next marathon.

One game, 24 hours, and 35 families helped proves that when people refuse to quit, neither do the kids they're skating for.