Sixth Annual ‘Serving For A Cure’ Tournament
to benefit the American Cancer Society and the fight against breast cancer
5 p.m. Oct. 4; 9 am. Oct 5
Blessed Trinity Catholic High School, 11320 Woodstock Road, Roswell
www.btcatholic.org; 678-277-9083
Free; donations accepted at the door.
Varsity volleyball players at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Roswell don’t have much down time. Between classes, practices and games, spare time is at a premium. But Coach Paul Stevens still wanted to get his girls’ team involved in a community project.
“I wanted it to be something we could do as a team, but the tricky part is that in the fall, we compete on so many Saturdays in all-day tournaments,” he said. “If they do get a Saturday off, I want them to rest.”
With so many tournaments monopolizing the weekends, Stevens and his team hit on a way to turn what they usually do into a service project. Five years ago, they decided to stage a varsity volleyball tournament that would double as fundraiser for the American Cancer Society and its fight against breast cancer. They dubbed it “Serving for a Cure.”
“It immediately took on a life of its own,” said Stevens. “Since then, each year, we try to add something new to make it fun.”
Both the varsity and junior varsity players start prepping for the event several weeks in advance. They sell T-shirts designed by students in graphics department and start offering tickets in a 50/50 raffle that’s gotten bigger each year. They also make blankets, pillows and bracelets and bake an array of treats to sell on tournament day. This year, the team has partnered with local businesses to give away gift certificates, plush toys and donated products in a spiking contest.
“It’s really a carnival-like atmosphere,” said Stevens. “We get our JV and middle school teams to man the tables while the varsity plays.”
The team elected to donate the funds to the tournament to the American Cancer Society after realizing that many of them knew someone affected by breast cancer. Last year, the total raised was $8,133, and they hope to top that this year.
Since its inception, the event has been dedicated to an individual, and this year, that dedication is particularly poignant. The team will be remembering the mother of Assistant Coach Caitlyn Lumpkin, who lost here mother, Patti Murphy, to breast cancer in May after a 9-year battle.
“It was painfully obvious that we know more people who have been impacted by the disease,” said Stevens. “It affects so many people, and if we can do something to raise awareness or find a cure, then that’s what we should be all about.”
The tournament features 12 public and private school volleyball teams from across the region. Last year, the Blessed Trinity team won its third state championship, but they have yet to take home a trophy from their own event.
“We’ve been in the finals twice,” said Stevens. “But to be honest, raising money for a good cause has been the larger victory.”
Every other Wednesday, H.M. Cauley brings you positive stories from our community. To suggest a story idea, call 770-744-3042 or e-mail hm_cauley@yahoo.com.
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