WEST MILFORD – The high school field hockey teams joined together to compete against breast cancer last month during a “Competition Day” practice.
Head Coach Kristsa Provost said the “Play 4 the Cure” day, Oct. 19, which was consolidated with the 5th annual Administrators and Athletes Team Competition day raised more than $3,500 for Minette’s Angels, a local foundation that provides money to breast cancer survivors and current patients, as well as providing other services for them.
The teams mixed, and divided into four teams for the day which included cancer survivors, athletes and administrators, she said.
Former field hockey team coaches, Bruce Bialkin and Karen Johnson, also took part in the day.
Provost said the girls created the team names and outfits for the competition at a breakfast honoring breast cancer survivors, Linda Begley, Linda Stanton, and Pat Barrere. earlier in the month.
The four teams, Boxers- Knock Cancer Out, Karate- Kick Cancer's Butt, Pink- Girl Power, and Football- Tackle Cancer, then had two weeks to raise money for the charity, she said.
The competition itself, including High School Principal Matthew Strianse and schools Superintendent Alex Anemone, consisted of several different challenges for the teams such as, a “Relay for Life” with a combination of running and exercises, hitting balls through a goal for points, and a “Warrior Dash” sprinting activity.
The teams also held mini-scrimmages and half-filed games during the practice.
“The administrators and athletes had a great time playing together while their breast cancer survivor cheered them on and got involved in a few of the activities,” Provost said. “It was truly an amazing day and definitely an event the girls will never forget.”
She said the girls are looking forward to making the event bigger and better.