Coyotes to host Skatin’ for Leighton event Sunday at Phoenix Raceway

The Arizona Coyotes are hosting the Skatin’ for Leighton charity event presented by Phoenix Children’s Hospital on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.

The event will benefit the Leighton Accardo Memorial Fund, which provides financial assistance to girls in the Valley who want to play hockey.

Accardo was a patient at Phoenix Children’s and a big Coyotes fan who signed an honorary one-day contract with the team before its “Hockey Fights Cancer” game in 2019.

She died in November of 2020 of cancer, and the Coyotes have since put her in their Ring of Honor with her hockey number, 49.

“Leighton was a very special person, and we were all inspired by her incredible strength, courage and passion for hockey and life,” Coyotes president & CEO Xavier A. Gutierrez said in a press release. “We were honored to induct her into our Ring of Honor last year and this event will continue to help keep her memory alive.”

A beautiful life packed into 9 years.
A beautiful legacy just getting started.

Today, Accardo 49 joins our Ring of Honor forever. 💜 pic.twitter.com/7UkXSnj8qz

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) April 17, 2021

The goal for the event is to reach $149,000 to benefit the fund, according to the release.

Fans six years of age or older can register to skate, walk or run on the track and gain access to other festivities on the infield.

It costs $49 to go onto the racetrack, and that deal includes a ticket to a Coyotes game and to the NASCAR Xfinity Series race on March 12.

General admission tickets for infield festivities costs $20.

The inaugural Skatin’ for Leighton event was held last February.

The 2022 event will run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and fans can register online.

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