Feature Photo: CTVNews.ca
While topping one another in a pizza-eating contest was certainly on their minds, NHL brothers Nick and Marcus Foligno had a more meaningful goal during the recent charity event in their hometown of Sudbury, Ontario.
On June 19, in front of an enthusiastic crowd gathered at the Grace Hartman Amphitheatre in downtown Sudbury, Nick, the 37-year-old captain of the Chicago Blackhawks, and Marcus, the 33-year-old alternate captain for the Minnesota Wild, brought their friendly sibling rivalry to centre stage.
The pair faced off against local celebrities for the pizza-eating bragging rights.
“I should have won,” joked Marcus, who has played 875 regular-season NHL games. “Unfortunately, I went up against a cheating brother who slid a piece of pizza under his chair, so I lost by half a slice.”
“It was fun,” added Nick, a veteran of 1,233 regular-season NHL games, who ate an entire pizza, plus another slice, to earn the victory over his brother. “I have a nice trophy on my mantle now. I have no comment on my brother’s accusations.”
The pizza-eating contest, organized by local restaurant Don’s Pizza, was part of a larger evening that included live music and silent and live auctions. The event raised $35,000 each for two causes close to the Foligno family's heart – the Janis Foligno Foundation and Health Sciences North, Sudbury’s regional hospital.
Janis Foligno, the brothers’ mother, passed away from breast cancer in 2009. The foundation created in her honour supports cancer research, treatment and local health initiatives. Both brothers have also been actively involved in Hockey Fights Cancer – a league-wide initiative founded in 1998 which has since raised more than $44 million for cancer research.
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“There are so many great people in this city, who really want to help make a difference in the community,” said Marcus. “It was nice to bring everyone together. We have a big family, so there were a lot of Folignos and extended family at the event.
“The hospital – our mom went there for cancer treatment – is amazing,” he continued. “The people who work there, the volunteers, everybody who supports it – we are very grateful for every one of them.”
Nick echoed those sentiments.
“We can’t thank this community enough. There is a reason why we love calling Sudbury home. It’s where we were raised and where we come back to each summer. We appreciate the people here. They have supported our family dating back to the late 1970s when my dad played for the Sudbury Wolves. There is a long tradition of how good the people of Sudbury have been to us.
“We want to make Sudbury proud and help remind people across the country know the great people and great hospital services there are here. So many people come from the northern part of the province come to the hospital here and we want to make sure Sudbury is that hub where people can get the best treatment and care possible.”
Health Sciences North plays a vital role in providing high-quality medical care to both Sudbury residents and to numerous remote towns and villages across Northeastern Ontario.
“We want to keep the hospital and its services in the spotlight. The Janis Foligno Foundation echoes what the hospital does. We give the money raised through the foundation back to places in Sudbury we know can make a big difference and that people depend on,” said Nick.
“Our dad told us a total of nearly $1.5 million that people have given to the foundation since it started. We are so humbled by that.”
Added Marcus, “Sudbury has long been referred to as the ‘Gateway to the North.’ The places the city services, some of them remote – it is amazing the number of people who go to Sudbury for healthcare. I am so proud of everyone who has stepped up to make us such a key hub for medical services.”
While both brothers know there’s still much work to do in the fight against cancer, they remain fully committed to being part of that mission.
“We realize that we have to keep evolving,” said Marcus. “That is what is so special in what we are trying do in this community – that the money raised for HSN and the Janis Foligno Foundation is staying in Sudbury. I think people appreciate that.”
“It’s one thing that Marcus and I have carried down from our parents, our wives, our family – we genuinely enjoy giving back and if we can do it together – which we don’t always get to do – it makes it even more special,” said Nick.
And getting the better of your younger brother? That’s just a bonus.
“That’s the pinnacle,” said Nick with a laugh. “Especially to have everyone there to witness me beating my brother – that’s an amazing feeling as an older brother. I’ve still got it.”
“All joking aside, we love seeing the people in Sudbury and being part of the community. We try to be as present as possible when we are here.”
Whether it’s eating pizza, raising funds, or reconnecting with old friends, the Foligno brothers are all in when it comes to making a difference.
“There are a lot of great families in this city who are very giving of their time and support,” said Nick. “We’re lucky to share this great community with all of them.”
“It’s such an amazing place,” added Marcus. “We’re always happy to be here.”
