Pittsburgh Review

Rachel Danchek, a survivor of stage 3B ovarian cancer, recently experienced the NHL's Hockey Fights Cancer initiative firsthand when the Pittsburgh Penguins invited her and her grandmother, Marian Ebner, to attend their game against Calgary on November 30. Rachel's journey through cancer has been challenging, but she now advocates for others facing similar situations.

Reflecting on her diagnosis, Rachel shared, "I think people look at me as a healthy 30-year-old that can’t have that happen to them. I only found out that I had ovarian cancer because I dealt with infertility. I just want to stress that if you think anything is wrong with your body, please go see your doctor, because you never know."

In September, Rachel marked a milestone by ringing the bell as a cancer survivor. Despite personal hardships following her recovery—including her mother's cancer diagnosis and her grandfather's passing—Rachel sought to uplift her family by sharing a TikTok video featuring Marian's enthusiasm for the Penguins.

Rachel noted the supportive response from fans: "I think it was just really cool to see people who were fans of other teams comment on the video. It just kind of brought everyone together; it was just a really cool thing."

Having relocated from Raleigh to Pittsburgh for treatment, attending the Hockey Fights Cancer event in Pittsburgh held special significance for Rachel. She expressed gratitude for being in the city during this time: "The timing of it was perfect. It feels surreal that we’re all able to be here in the same city here tonight; it’s crazy. I feel like this was kind of my purpose: ovarian cancer advocacy."

Through TikTok, Rachel connected with an audience supportive of her journey and passion for hockey. This connection led to an arrangement with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Rachel expressed joy at sharing this experience with family: "We finally can do something fun with all of our family. Everyone is here, and everyone is home for Thanksgiving."

For Marian, who has long cherished Pittsburgh sports teams and followed them closely, attending the game was more than entertainment—it was about celebrating resilience and love for hockey.

Marian reminisced about growing up surrounded by sports enthusiasts: "I grew up with four brothers, and they all were sports nuts. I grew up with it; I sit and watch them all the time." Her dedication extends to tracking games via newspaper listings on her fridge calendar.

A lifelong wish came true when Marian met Sidney Crosby during warmups at Suite 66. The encounter left Marian elated: "It’s great what the Penguins do for the city, especially Sid. I mean, he does everything, and we just love him here."

For Rachel's family deeply bonded over Penguins hockey, honoring Rachel's battle against cancer while fulfilling Marian's dream is an unforgettable memory.

"We’re just so thankful for everyone that made this possible," said Rachel. "Everyone who reached out—all the players and the entire organization gave us a memory that we won’t ever forget."