It was a little more than a year ago when a group of 40 women played hockey for 10 days at Burnaby 8Rinks to raise awareness about cystic fibrosis and set a Guinness world record.
The group, named the Vancouver chapter of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Partners, succeeded in every way possible, raising more than $165,000, breaking the longest continuous hockey game record by 65 minutes and raising awareness of the disease to levels they didn't even think possible.
And come Nov. 17, participants and supporters will get to relive that magical time between Aug. 26 and Sept. 5, 2011 with the Vancouver screening party for Lace Bite, the documentary about the world's longest hockey game.
The documentary, presented by Beyond Your Eye Productions and Cystic Fibrosis Canada and produced and directed by Sharron Bates and Carmen Klotz, will have two screenings, at 12: 30 and 2: 30 p.m. at the Vancouver International Film Festival Vancity Theatre at 1185 Seymour St. Doors open at noon, with tickets $15 for adults and $13 for people under 18. Tickets are available at the door, cash only, and include the reception afterwards.
The celebratory get-together after the screenings will allow people to eat, talk and meet some of the players who took part in the game.
Food is being provided by Whole Foods and Bella Cakes of New Westminster, while the cash bar will feature beverages from Parallel 49 Brewery, Gray Monk Winery and Quail's Gate Winery.
Francesca Sawyer is a Burnaby resident who played in the game, which participants still look back at as a rousing, heart-warming story of community, love of hockey and desire to help others
Sawyer has been involved in ice sports for many years and got involved because of her friendship with Annie Markvoort, the sister of Eva Markvoort, the New Westminster woman who had the fatal genetic disease and passed away in March 2010.
Sawyer said she played ringette for 18 years, coached for seven years and was a referee for three years. She's also played co-ed, women's and summer hockey for the past six years.
"The Longest Game 4 CF combined everyone's love of hockey with their love of helping others in need," said Sawyer. "It was through Annie I found out about cystic fibrosis, and she asked me if I wanted to help in the Longest Game 4 CF. "Eva's story motivated me to get involved with cystic fibrosis, getting the word out and helping to raise money to find a cure."
As the documentary's Vancouver showing nears, Sawyer can barely contain her joy.
"It is going to be so exciting," she said. "It's going to be interesting going back and seeing all the trials and tribulations we went through and how tough it was for all of us. . So many of us are really proud of the work we did to raise money and awareness for CF, and we are lucky enough to have a documentary made about this game."
The documentary had its international premiere at DocuFest Atlanta on Sept. 23, while its Canadian premiere was at the St. John's International Women's Film Festival on Oct. 19.
For more information on the documentary, go to www.lace bitemovie.com.
