If you were watching the Chicago Blackhawks hockey game on Sunday (Oct. 27, 2019), you might have seen a familiar face walking on the ice.

Kane County’s very own Shelle Young was selected by The Chicago Blackhawks and the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation to walk the Purple Carpet during their pre-game annual “Hockey Fights Cancer” night at the United Center on Sunday, Oct. 27.

The Purple Carpet honors fans who are currently battling cancer or are in remission as well as those who have lost a loved one to the disease. Blackhawks Television Color Analyst Eddie Olczyk — who serves as this year’s league-wide Hockey Fights Cancer ambassador — and former forward Adam Burish hosted the annual Purple Carpet in the United Center Atrium, they read stories as honorees were greeted by fans waiving personalized “I Fight For” signs, cheering, raising high-fives and waving purple pom-poms!

Adam Burish shared this about Young:

“Long-time Blackhawks fan Shelle Young also joins us today. In April 2019, Shelle was diagnosed with cancer, and just one month later she was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer. After completing 25 radiation treatments, 192 hours of intensive chemo therapy and colon resection surgery, she scored and is now tumor free! Treatment continues next week, but she’s ready to fight. Way to go Shelle!”

Young lives in Elgin, and is the former executive director of two nonprofits in St. Charles, IL. She recently signed the Elgin Police Department Pink Cancer Awareness squad car using her own hashtag (#saycancersux) which is a combination of her initials and her thoughts on her disease.

To learn more about Young’s story, visit gofundme.com/saycancersux.

During Sunday’s game, Young was also invited to watch the team’s warmup from the tunnel, and afterwards rode the Zamboni before the puck dropped against the Los Angeles Kings.

During warmups, players wore newly-designed “Hockey Fights Cancer” jerseys that will each be autographed and auctioned off online to benefit various local cancer-related organizations through the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation.

Coaches and broadcasters wore purple ties, which will also be included in the auction accompanied by an autographed photo. The auction began Sunday, Oct. 27, and runs through Monday, Nov. 4 at noon. Interested fans can visit Blackhawks.com/HockeyFightsCancer for more information.

“It was an incredible experience,” Young said. “The Chicago Blackhawks connected me with fighters and survivors that I might not otherwise get to meet! We got to bond, hug each other, laugh and cry together. The Blackhawks fans were so amazing, waving and smiling as I rode past on the Zamboni.”

The Blackhawks defeated the Kings 5-1 on Hockey Fights Cancer Night at the United Center.

“I’m so grateful to have been selected for this special event,” Young said. “For a while today, I was able to forget that I have this horrible disease. And of course, the Hawks had a huge win against the Kings, which just added to the whole day!”

SOURCE: Hockey Fights Cancer news release