Lacrosse players stick it to cancer
Score one more for breast cancer research. The inaugural Lax for a Cure charity lacrosse tournament on the weekend was the latest of many fundraisers organized to aid research with the hope of making breast cancer history.
The lighthearted event was held Saturday at Twin Lakes Secondary School and drew about 100 people and 13 teams to the field. The event raised $5,129 through registration fees, donations and draws. "It's more than we expected," said co-organizer Amy Fincham. "We just wanted a successful tournament." The idea for the tournament came to Fincham and her fellow organizers, Brit Boynton and Jayme Beard, after they all won lacrosse shafts at a banquet and thought about raffling them off for charity. Choosing the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation as a beneficiary was a no-brainer, said Fincham. "We've all been affected by breast cancer in one way or another," she said. Heather Kidd of Toronto was playing for her mom, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2006. "She's doing really well now, but these fundraisers are a good reminder that it's an ongoing battle," said Kidd, a member of the top fundraising team, cleverly named "Saving Second Base." Another teammate, Sherry Fernandes of Whitby, was playing for her mother-in-law, who was diagnosed just last month. She is to start radiation therapy this week, Fernandes said, and the charity tournament "really meant a lot to her."
"She gave me a hundred bucks," Fernandes said.
Her team -- made up of Toronto lacrosse players -- raised more than $400. The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation estimates one in nine Canadian women will be diagnosed with the disease in her lifetime. The striking reality of the broad reach of breast cancer seems to be getting through to younger women, said Kidd. "A lot of them have grown up with the statistics," she said. "That message has really gotten out." The success of Saturday's tournament has organizers looking forward to it becoming an annual event. Fincham thanked the volunteers and business owners -- mostly local -- who threw their support behind the fundraiser. "We hope there's even more support next year," she said.
Score one more for breast cancer research. The inaugural Lax for a Cure charity lacrosse tournament on the weekend was the latest of many fundraisers organized to aid research with the hope of making breast cancer history.
The lighthearted event was held Saturday at Twin Lakes Secondary School and drew about 100 people and 13 teams to the field. The event raised $5,129 through registration fees, donations and draws. "It's more than we expected," said co-organizer Amy Fincham. "We just wanted a successful tournament." The idea for the tournament came to Fincham and her fellow organizers, Brit Boynton and Jayme Beard, after they all won lacrosse shafts at a banquet and thought about raffling them off for charity. Choosing the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation as a beneficiary was a no-brainer, said Fincham. "We've all been affected by breast cancer in one way or another," she said. Heather Kidd of Toronto was playing for her mom, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2006. "She's doing really well now, but these fundraisers are a good reminder that it's an ongoing battle," said Kidd, a member of the top fundraising team, cleverly named "Saving Second Base." Another teammate, Sherry Fernandes of Whitby, was playing for her mother-in-law, who was diagnosed just last month. She is to start radiation therapy this week, Fernandes said, and the charity tournament "really meant a lot to her."
"She gave me a hundred bucks," Fernandes said.
Her team -- made up of Toronto lacrosse players -- raised more than $400. The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation estimates one in nine Canadian women will be diagnosed with the disease in her lifetime. The striking reality of the broad reach of breast cancer seems to be getting through to younger women, said Kidd. "A lot of them have grown up with the statistics," she said. "That message has really gotten out." The success of Saturday's tournament has organizers looking forward to it becoming an annual event. Fincham thanked the volunteers and business owners -- mostly local -- who threw their support behind the fundraiser. "We hope there's even more support next year," she said.
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