On October 8, the Arvada High School volleyball team played Elizabeth High School.Elizabeth narrowly won the match, but the real winner that Thursday night was
Sense of Security, a charity aiding breast cancer patients.
Each year, during the month of October, Arvada High School has a "pink game" which serves as a fundraiser for breast cancer patients.The tradition began three years ago under now Assistant Principle Patti
Hagemeyer, who was head volleyball coach at the time.That year, the girls held a "pink bake sale" and raffle, wore pink socks for the game, and raised about $200 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Last year, the team raised money for the
Mickaela Foundation, a local charity which helped uninsured breast cancer patients.The charity has since closed.
This year, volleyball coaches Christy Wasinger and Erica Schutte made 2,000 pink construction paper ribbons, which girls on the team (as well as other teams and clubs at the school) sold throughout the week for one dollar.A raffle was held at the game and prizes included two digital cameras.The girls on both teams wore pink shirts and all of
the money raised was donated to Sense of Security.
Sense of Security is a local charity, founded in 2000 by Vickie Tosher and Angela Ricker.Tosher's friend, Donna was battling breast cancer for a second time and told friends that she was planning to sell her home to pay off medical bills.Tosher and her friends were not willing to let that happen, and raised money for Donna.Sadly, Donna lost her fight to cancer, but Tosher and Ricker wanted to help other women in the same situation and founded the organization. Doctors, nurses and social workers often refer breast cancer patients struggling to make ends meet to the charity.Patients then apply for assistance and those selected receive help with bills for the duration of treatment.Executive Director of
Sense of Security Rita McCoy spoke at the beginning of the game and thanked the students and the community for their support.
Not only is the fundraiser beneficial to patients, it is also a valuable experience for students.Hagemeyer feels that the fundraisers gets kids interested in effectively participating in community service and that the kids get a lot out of helping someone else.Varsity players Megan Parsons and Taylor Escamilla both agreed that they enjoy the pink game and the opportunity to help out a good cause.Wasinger commented that the kids are willing to fundraise to help others and pointed out that there is power in numbers.Many are willing to offer small donations, and those donations really add up.Donations this year totaled over $750.