Alex Ovechkin announces "The GR8 Chase for Victory over Cancer" while chasing down the NHL goal scoring record

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is once again giving back to the community amid his chase towards greatness. He is teaming up with the Caps, Hockey Fights Cancer, and the V Foundation for Cancer Research to launch The GR8 Chase for Victory Over Cancer which will be an initiative to raise funds for pediatric cancer research as he nears the NHL's all time career goals record.

More information plus how to donate

Donations from fans can be made at v.org/GR8chase. As part of The GR8 Chase for Victory Over Cancer campaign, Ovechin will donate an amount equal to his career goal total for every goal he scores during the remainder of his NHL career starting with Wednesday's Capitals game against the New York Rangers.

Ovechkin's donations will be matched by Monumental Sports and Entertainment, meaning each goal scored will bring a donation that is double his career goal total at that time. Ovechkin is inviting fans to make an impact alongside him. Fans can support The GR8 Chase by donating $8 or any amount they can give in honor of his historic pursuit of the NHL's all time goals record.

In his 20th season, Ovechkin is closing in on a rapid pace Wayne Gretzky's goal scoring record. Ovi is only 10 goals away from tying and 11 goals away from passing the historic marker.

"I'm proud to join the V Foundation and support their efforts to fund lifesaving cancer research. Throughout my NHL career, I have met many brave kids battling cancer, and I feel it's important to do what I can to help save more lives from this horrible disease. I want to thank the V Foundation for all their hard work, and I look forward to using my platform and doing anything I can to help further the V Foundation and Hockey Fights Cancer's mission. "

Alex Ovechkin

Donations raised by the campaign will go to the V Foundation through Hockey Fights Cancer and suppot the Alex Ovechkin GR8 Chase Pediatric Cancer Research Grant. Cancer is the leading cause of disease related death among children and adolescents, but survival rates are improving because of research.

Today 85 percent of kids with cancer survive five years or more, up from 58 percent in the 1970s. Since its inception, the V Foundation has awarded over $91 million in pediatric cancer research grans, funding 241 grants across North America. This is another outstanding effort from the best player in the history of our sport to be able to give back and the fact that he wears a Washington Capitals sweater should make us all the more proud.