Hendrik King Named Baskin-Robbins Pint-Sized Hero
The eight-year-old was honored for his resilience following his long journey through cancer treatment.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Hockey
Baskin-Robbins named eight-year-old Hendrik King the 2026 Pint-Sized Hero, awarding a $31,000 grant to Rady Children's Hospital in his name. The honor follows King's completion of 844 days of cancer treatment.
Why it matters
The Pint-Sized Heroes program seeks to bring joy to young patients facing significant medical challenges by celebrating their strength and resilience. The initiative allows honorees to directly influence the allocation of grant funds to support hospital services.
Hendrik King, now in remission, finished 844 days of treatment while Rady Children's Hospital prepares to add its fourth facility dog.
The players
Hendrik King
He is an eight-year-old patient who was named the 2026 Pint-Sized Hero after completing cancer treatment.
Drew Helleson
He is a professional hockey player currently playing for the Anaheim Ducks organization.
Jackson LaCombe
He is a professional hockey player currently rostered with the Anaheim Ducks.
Baskin-Robbins
It is an international chain of ice cream specialty shops that operates the Pint-Sized Heroes program.
Rady Children's Hospital
It is a pediatric healthcare facility that provides medical services to children in Orange County.
The details
Anaheim Ducks players Drew Helleson and Jackson LaCombe attended the event, which featured an ice cream party for staff and patients. King, who also received one year of free ice cream, participated in the event to celebrate his recovery.
Timeline
Hendrik King was diagnosed with cancer in 2023.
Baskin-Robbins hosted the ice cream party on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This event highlights the ongoing community outreach initiatives supported by professional athletes like those from the Anaheim Ducks. It underscores a broader trend where sports organizations leverage their platforms to bring local visibility to pediatric health advocacy.
The involvement of Anaheim Ducks players underscores the team's ongoing commitment to local outreach during the current season. This event provides a public-facing look at how athletes engage with charitable partners outside of professional gameplay.
The takeaway
Recognizing the personal struggles of young patients serves to boost morale within medical facilities while supporting vital hospital programs. Local community members can support similar efforts by engaging with foundation-led initiatives or attending team-hosted charitable events.
Further reading
For more on how local teams connect with the community, see our Hockey section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Los Angeles Times.
