High school fundraiser nets nearly $1,200 for county Relay for Life
Published 9:35 am Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Dowagiac Union Schools Superintendent Paul Hartsig (left) and Athletic Director Brent Nate present a check to Relay for Life organizers Terri Schmidt and Gary Peffley at the Jan. 8 basketball game between Dowagiac and Edwardsburg. The game was part of the “Coaches vs. Cancer” fundraiser, which collected nearly $1,200 in donations. (Submitted photo)
The spirits among the fans watching the action on the court during the Chieftain’s battle against Edwardsburg on Jan. 8 were no doubt high following the hometown team’s overtime victory that evening.
The also proved to be an exciting one for organizers with the Cass County Relay for Life, as officials with Dowagiac Union Schools presented a check worth more than $1,000 to representatives with the local cancer fundraising event. The game capped off the first ever “Coaches vs. Cancer” event held at the high school and sponsored by the Relay and American Cancer Society.
In the days leading up to the basketball game, the Relay sold orange and black T-shirts, sporting the “Coaches vs. Cancer” logo, to high school students, staff and parents — those who wore there shirts that evening got into the game for free. In addition, organizers collected donations and distributed information about the cancer fundraiser during the game, said Relay for Life organizer Terri Schmidt.
“It’s to let people know what we do and why we do it,” Schmidt said.
Overall, organizers sold around 140 shirts for the event, she said. Between the sales and donations at the game, the organization collected around $1,200 for the Relay, Schmidt said.
Dowagiac was one of many high schools around the country to host a “Coaches vs. Cancer” program, a collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. As well as serving as a fun way for people to donate to efforts to fight cancer, it also serves as a venue to teach high school students more about the struggles of people who are fighting cancer, Schmidt said.
“It’s great to see younger kids get more involved,” Schmidt said. “I’m trying to get more kids involved with the Relay. That’s my main goal right now.”
Cassopolis Public Schools is also hosting a “Coaches vs. Cancer” event during the Cassopolis vs. Brandywine basketball game Tuesday.
So far, organizers with the 2016 Relay for Life have raised nearly $6,000 for this year’s event, which takes place from June 17-18 at the Cass County Fairgrounds in Cassopolis. The Relay is hosting a kickoff event for interested participants from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 23 at Southwestern Michigan College.
