By Katrina Grant
Two local eighth-grade students from Southampton organized a fundraiser to raise money for Breast Cancer. This year Kate Taylor and Ashley Moore organized their second annual Play 4 the Cure Breast Cancer Fundraiser. The girls hosted several games of field hockey with teams from Tabernacle, Shamong, Southampton, Pemberton Marlton and Florence.
“Both of the girls play field hockey and are a part of the U.S.A. Field Hockey Association,” Debbie Taylor, Kate Taylor’s mother said. “Through their membership they get Field Hockey Life magazine and they saw in the magazine the Play 4 the Cure fundraisers.”
Last year the girls decided that they wanted to host their own Play 4 the Cure fundraiser and organized it all in a month.
“They made and passed out fliers,” Taylor said. “They asked teachers, friends and family for donations and let the other teams know, so that they could get people to participate.”
At the event the girls sold cupcakes, sweaters, t-shirts, bags and several other items to raise money for their cause. They also went to the soccer field next to the field and collected money from them.
The games were broken up over two days where eight games were played on each day.
“They had a junior division that had the third, fourth and fifth-graders and they played on Saturday,” Taylor said. “The senior division made up of sixth, seventh and eighth graders played on Sunday. They turned a home weekend game into a fundraiser.”
The goal the girls wanted to reach last year was $500 and they ended up raising $2,500.
“It blew their minds when they ended up raising that much,” Taylor said. “They were counting the money and they couldn’t believe it.”
Taylor and Moore will move on to high school next year and this is something that they would like to continue.
“They told the rec coaches that they would come back every year and help organize this,” Taylor said. “Seneca High School does participate in a Play 4 the Cure event, but the girls want to keep organizing this for rec.”
This year the girls raised just under $1,900 and still have money coming in slowly. They will continue to collect donations until the end of the month.
If you would like to donate you can contact Debbie Taylor at 304–2691 or at mom_2_k8@yahoo.com.
