ROCK SPRINGS — The Rock Springs Men’s Hockey Association skated into the hearts and pocketbooks of local residents raising $5,000 to help offset medical expenses for a local infant girl.
Harper Marie Janicki was diagnosed with hypoplastic aortic arch shortly after she was born on October 8, 2019. She underwent a battery of tests because of her heart condition, but her parents eventually life-flighted her to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City.
She has since gone through several open chest surgeries and many complications in her short life, but thankfully she and her family were able to return home on November 16.
A Special Kind of Goal
When the local hockey association found out about Harper’s condition, it decided to put a different spin on its annual Bud Cup Tournament this year. The association created a fundraiser for the weekend of March 6-8 and collectively gathered a substantial amount of money over the three-day tournament.
“All of them put in a pretty good effort to get some money raised,” said RSMHA President Charlie Barnum. “We raised $5,000 for Harper and were just given the check that we delivered last night (April 13).”
Obviously because of COVID-19 restrictions the team was not able to gather for a picture with Harper. But its efforts, thoughtfulness and compassion will help the Janicki’s as they navigate toward getting Harper healthy and giving her the life she deserves.
And it’s yet another example of how our community bonds together during tough times to make us all #SweetwaterStrong.
