VGK’s Shea Theodore Celebrates Fifth Year of “Kay’s Power Play”

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore continues to honor his grandmother Kay Darlington’s legacy by helping breast cancer patients in Southern Nevada.

This year marks the fifth year since the founding of the Kay’s Power Play Fund through a partnership with Comprehensive Cancer Centers and Susan G. Komen.

Darlington passed away in 2020 while battling breast cancer and Theodore says this is a way to honor her memory.

“My grandma battled breast cancer twice and she was very special to our whole family and she meant everything,” Theodore said. “She came here and got great care and great help. The team just took really good care of her.”

Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images

Kay’s Power Play Fund provides money to cancer patients in Southern Nevada so they can receive vital services.

“[They] Not only do you get the mammogram, but also [this] also helps patients with other resources, including rent, bills, groceries and other items,” said Paul Dieter, executive director of the Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada. “The real call to action is to make sure the community knows the resources are available” and that no one is missing out on care because [they don’t know about] Resources.”

Since the program’s launch in 2020, Comprehensive Cancer Centers and Shea Theodore have donated $50,000 each year. This is also important because breast cancer is the most expensive cancer to treat.

“Despite major advances in breast cancer treatment, many patients struggle to access care due to a variety of financial constraints,” said Jill Eaton, executive director of Nevada, Arizona and Inland Empire at Susan G. Komen. “Thanks to the support of Kay’s Power Play, we are able to guide patients into care and keep them on their treatment plan.”

She adds that the money also supports the Komen Hotline, “which is the only hotline dedicated to breast cancer resources for people in the United States.”

Tonya Harvey Photography, Comprehensive Cancer Centers

Susan G. Komen Nevada reports that its patient care center has seen a 21% increase in services for individuals seeking assistance over the past year.

According to Comprehensive Cancer Centers, Nevada’s mammography rate is about 5% lower than the national average and nearly 2,500 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in Nevada each year.

Doctors say the key to fighting the disease is to remain proactive and let the community know that resources exist to help them.

“Since we started thinking about it and planning it five years ago, I think it continues to grow, which is the most important part of everything we do,” said Dr. Rupesh Parikh of the Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada. “It’s all about prevention. The key message is that it is always easier to prevent cancer than to treat it. If we can get that message out, that’s what we want to do.”

Find out more about Kay’s Power Play and how to get support here.