GNAC Schools Participate in Coaches vs. Cancer Campaign

The members of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference are always looking for opportunities to give back through charitable efforts. This spring GNAC softball coaches joined the American Cancer Society (ACS) in its "Coaches vs. Cancer" program.

Schools devoted one of their play dates to the cause to help raise money and awareness of cancer charities. Teams raised money is by soliciting donations online and selling wristbands and t-shirts. Some also held "bake no-sales" where baked goods could be bought for a donation of the buyer's choice. Some schools also pledged donations based on their number of strikeouts or hits.

Players and coaches showed their support by wearing pink warm-ups, ribbons, shoelaces, wristbands, and other apparel.

At Johnson and Wales, ACS regional representative Kelly Stewart presented a check and a banner during the opening ceremony. Other schools added a more personal touch to their pregame ceremonies by dedicating their games to a person who was affected by the disease.  At Mount Ida, they had head coach Katie Zuman's mother, who is a breast cancer survivor, throw out a ceremonial first pitch. At Suffolk, they dedicated their games to Cali Loura, a 2012 graduate and former Rams softball player, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Lasell invited a player's aunt to participate in a ceremonial first pitch.

Suffolk also held a postgame event, allowing people to participate in a home run derby for a small donation.

At Emmanuel, both, the Saints and the Norwich Cadets donned pink uniforms in recognition of those battling and affected by cancer. The Emmanuel softball team raised close to $2,500, which will be donated directly to the American Cancer Society.

The Coaches vs. Cancer program started in 1993 as a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) to empower college basketball coaches, their teams, and their local communities to make a difference in the fight against cancer.

The program has expanded on that concept and grown to include school and league teams at all levels and from all sports. From basketball courts to soccer fields and from football fields to running tracks, now any coach and team can be a part of the Coaches vs. Cancer program.