In partnership with the Pin Cancer wrestling nonprofit, Clearview Junior Wrestling (CJW) will sponsor a two-hour wrestling clinic on Saturday, June 29, at its building in Mantua.
All proceeds will benefit Pin Cancer, a partner of St. Jude’s Children Hospital in Memphis.
“Our goal is to raise $2,500, but we’re hoping that we can double and triple it,” said wrestliing program secretary Megan Battaglia. “We’re hoping that this helps pin cancer and opens the door to help raise more funds.”
For Clearview junior wrestling, the clinic is personal, according to Battaglia. That’s because one of its coaches, Jimmy Mustakis, has a brother who battled cancer. Mustakis will be among program coaches at the event.
“This clinic is very near and dear to us at Clearview junior wrestling,” Battaglia noted. “Not all organizations do something like this, and it gives the wrestlers the chance to give back to people.”
The clinic is open to wrestlers who range from elementary to high school in all weight divisions and genders, not just in Clearview, but also outside of it. The maximum number of participants is 60, given the space.
Registration is available for a fee on Pin Cancer’s website. Registrants will then receive an email from Pin Cancer on how to build fundraising pages for their own donations. Those who raise $100 or more will get a Pin Cancer T-shirt. One-time donations can be made by clicking on the website’s donate link.
Clinic hours will be 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
The nonprofit was created by former amateur wrestler Dan Tramontozzi in 2011 after his mother was diagnosed with cancer.
“Pin Cancer seeks to become how every level of the wrestling community can fight cancer and raise awareness together,” notes the Pin Cancer website. “Wrestling and charity may seem like an unlikely pairing, but the wrestling community has proven time and again that it can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those in need.
“Pin Cancer has harnessed the passion of some of the world’s best wrestlers to create a platform for positive change, turning the mat into a stage for charity.”
“We want our wrestlers to understand that it’s not just about wrestling and winning trophies,” Battaglia said. “It’s also about giving back to the community and inspiring people to be better.”
