TOPSHAM — The fifth annual Mt. Ararat High School field hockey “Drive Out Cancer” Tournament to benefit the Maine Children’s Cancer Program took place at Mt. Ararat Middle School on Saturday.
Under clear-blue skies, eight teams from Boothbay, Brunswick, Lincoln Academy, Lisbon, Maranacook, Morse, Mt Ararat and newcomer Oak Hill battled on the field for a good cause.
Macey Coffin, a Morse senior who has been playing field hockey for 10 years, remembers when her older sister played in the first tournament when it was just a glorified scrimmage. She said, “It’s just amazing to see how much the tournament has grown from the first time I saw it.”
Mt Ararat coach Krista Chase is the mastermind behind this event. She deflects all the credit for the event to the athletes and willingness of the participating coaches who have fully embraced the idea.
This year, Mt Ararat senior field hockey and track standout Wiley Fitzpatrick seized the opportunity to satisfy her Capstone project obligation by initiating and developing additional fundraising channels. Fitzpatrick organized a car wash and a bake sale, a night out at the 99 Restaurant where 15% of all proceeds were donated to the cause, and 11 gift baskets donated by local businesses which were raffled off at the end of the tournament.
With more than 20 matches played, coaches got plenty of chances to test strategies and evaluate talent, but more important were the lessons the younger athletes were learning that the older athletes already understood.
Morse’s Sydney Moore thought the interaction of the community was the most impressive thing. Teammate Kim St. Pierre echoed her thoughts. Molly Cashman gave tribute to her teammate Paige Willis, whose mom was recently diagnosed with cancer. Abby Durgin spoke articulately about the tournament and how it has led her to volunteer with families in Portland.
Team members that competed in Saturday’s Cure for Cancer event in Topsham pose for a photo. (Bill Fitzsimmons photo)
The main ceremony took place at a mid-day break. The families of Libby Adams, Madison Arndt and Adelynn Murphy told their agonizing stories of their young childrens diagnosis with cancer. The parents universally expressed their appreciation for both the care and personal involvement of all Maine Child Cancer Program employees exhibit. They are proud of their childrens resiliency and are happy to report that they are all cancer free today.
The speeches were followed by a laying of carnations by athletes and participants in remembrance of past cancer victims on a Cancer Ribbon painted at midfield.
Several other students shared their personal stories. All were inspiring, but perhaps the most emotional speaker was Oak Hill’s Abby Fuller, who was diagnosed with cancer in eighth grade. Her message was, “You can not stop living when something hard hits you. You have to find something that gives you joy.” For her, it was field hockey and the camaraderie and the support her teammates give her.
Other past speakers were honored, as well as Jocelyn Stover and David Hammond, who succumb to cancer this past year.
Mt Ararat’s Brea Holtet spoke of the joy she received from the community involvement and the knowledge that the event was helping children stricken with cancer
This is the third year that Lisbon has participated in the event. Greyhound senior Timber Mattson spoke of her teammate Maria Levesque, whose mom was recently diagnosed with cancer, and how she appreciated the opportunity to give back to the community. Megan Libby touched upon another former teammate whose little brother had cancer and how appreciative she was for Mt. Ararat hosting the tournament.
The festive atmosphere surrounding the event continued with a unique choreographed “Dance Off” competition that did indeed show what musician Cyndi Lauper said — “Girls Just Want To Have Fun.”
Any cloud that was hanging over the event due to the controversy over the previous years balloon release ceremonies was quickly dissipated with the establishment of a new ceremony with the laying of carnations by all participants at the Cancer Ribbon that was painted on the field.
Mt Ararat senior Holly Temple summed it up so eloquently. “We’ve moved forward. For four years, balloon release tradition meant a lot to us. But none of us wanted to distract from the cause we are supporting. It is about the MCCP, not the balloon release.”
A big thank you to all who participated and made this event such a fun time and financial success.
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