Photo: NHL

Shortly before the Capitals won the franchise’s first-ever Stanley Cup, Capitals Television color analyst and former player Craig Laughlin and his family were hit with the news that Craig’s wife of 37 years, Linda, had been diagnosed with cancer. While the family’s minds were busy handling the doctors visits and cheering on the Caps’ run to the championship, both Craig and Linda knew they wanted to do something more to aid in the research and care of cancer, specifically rare forms with their own foundation. Earlier today, Craig’s daughter Courtney announced the approval to found the family’s organization, The Laughlin Family Foundation.

Linda, who decided to go public with her diagnosis of uterine serous carcinoma, a rare form of uterine cancer, earlier this season, took part in a ceremonial puck drop at Capital One Arena earlier this season along with Craig as part of the Caps’ Hockey Fights Cancer Night in November. Courtney, who released the news on social media, announced The Laughlin Family Foundation’s main mission to “fund initiatives to advance the care and research of rare cancers”.

Beyond thrilled to announce that we have finally received approval for THE LAUGHLIN FAMILY FOUNDATION. Our mission is to fund initiatives to advance the care and research surrounding rare cancers. We can’t wait to get started.Stay tuned for what’s next! #EveryCancerDeservesAVoice

— Courtney Laughlin (@CourtneyL_Caps) February 19, 2019

Craig and Linda sat down with Capitals TV Play-by-Play announcer (and Craig’s longtime broadcast partner) Joe Beninati earlier this season to discuss Linda’s fight and their foundation in-depth in this interview from NBC Sports Washington:

As Linda says in the video above, “Every cancer deserves a voice”, and the Laughlins now have a platform to provide just that!

By Michael Fleetwood