In honor of the millions of people diagnosed annually with cancer, the Shelburne Community School middle school basketball coaches, players and staff decided to undertake a fundraising and awareness-building initiative on behalf of the Vermont Cancer Center (VCC) at the University of Vermont and Fletcher Allen Health Care during their season this past winter. While their original goal was $500, the result of their efforts was triple that number – a total of more than $1,500.

Most of the basketball teams’ fundraising activities took place at their games, where coaches and players wore pink t-shirts, sneakers, etc., and held bake sales, among other activities.  At the start of each game, students shared why cancer research was important to them and why they hoped people would join them in supporting the VCC. At two of the kick-off games, Kim Luebbers, M.S.H.S., R.N., B.S.N., O.C.N., VCC administrator, made a “guest” appearance, where she thanked the students and provided an overview of the VCC and its role in the community.

“The students also created an honor wall at their school where people could honor someone they knew who had passed away from or survived cancer,” says Sarah Keblin, interim team leader and director of annual giving for the UVM College of Medicine.

Shelburne Community School middle school basketball coaches, including Anthony Spagnolo, Andrew Riegler, and Alan Mihan supported the teams in making this happen. In addition to the activities that took place during the Shelburne Community School middle school basketball games, about 50 students attended one of the Play 4Kay (formerly Pink Zone) basketball games, which are part of UVM’s Rally for Cancer initiative.