Sports
Wheaton North, West Aurora Help Others with Volley for the Cure
Both schools raise money for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation to breast cancer research.
Next Tuesday at 6 p.m., Wheaton North and West Aurora’s volleyball teams will playing for something more important than a win.
Both teams will join forces at West Aurora to raise money for breast cancer research with the Volley for the Cure.
Adult admission is $4 and $2 for students, with pink t-shirts, a silent auction and raffle tickets available.
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The funds go to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation, with the schools raising $5,700 the last two years.
Volley for the Cure is a national movement which started five years ago in Ohio. The founders decided to fundraise for breast cancer in women’s sports because the disease affects so many women. According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 232,000 new breast cancer cases will be diagnosed this year, with almost 40,000 people dying from the disease.
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Wheaton North Carole Kristensen said the DuPage Valley Conference paired up teams to host the event every year, and she chose West Aurora because she and Blackhawks coach Kari Nicholson know each other well.
“This is a really excellent event,” Nicholson said. “It allows our girls to be involved hands on in something for others. They decorate the gym by pinking it out. We also recognize survivors and fighters of cancer. Last year, we had five people recognized and our girls present them with a flower. It’s something they hold very dear.”
Kristensen said many of her players know someone who has the disease or did not survive from it, and researching for a cure is something they strongly believe in.
“Jeanne Garrity (mom) and Donna Kristensen (mother-in-law) are both survivors,” Kristensen said. “I have several friends who are survivors, including a friend who had surgery Wednesday and hopefully, she will be OK.”
West Aurora senior setter Alexis McKenzie said the match is very emotional.
“We had a girl named Brittany Clarke on our team a few years ago who had liver cancer and she comes back, so it’s very emotional for some of us,” she said.
Mike Chapin, community relations director for School District 129, said pictures of loved ones who lost their battle with breast cancer will be displayed around the gym.
“A lot of people don’t leave with dry eyes,” Chapin said.
