10-31-2024 4:32am

Medway High School Volleyball Team Hosts Successful Dig Pink Fundraiser

Alan Earls Editor

The Medway High School Volleyball team raised donations for breast cancer research during the Dig Pink fundraiser. (Photo courtesy Medway Public Schools)

Medway Superintendent Armand Pires, Principal John Murray and Athletic Director Jeff Parcells have announced that the Medway High School Volleyball team held its annual Dig Pink fundraiser this month.

This is the team’s 11th year participating in the Side-Out Foundations’ Dig Pink Movement, and throughout the years, it has raised over $58,000 for Stage IV breast cancer research. Stage IV is the most advanced stage of breast cancer and yet the least funded area of research. Many members of the team have been affected by cancer within their families and are passionate about raising money for the cause.

This year, the team raised about $5,000.

The volleyball team played a home game at Medway High School on Monday, Oct. 21, to raise funds for the Dig Pink movement. Donations were generated by selling T-shirts, raffle tickets and baked goods.

Each year, the team honors a cancer survivor in the community. This year, the team recognized Katie Thompson, the wife of Head Coach Shawn Thompson.

“Throughout our season, Katie has had chemo treatments every three weeks on Tuesdays. On Oct. 16, Katie underwent a bilateral mastectomy, and after her procedure, her lymph nodes came back negative, meaning she is steps closer to hopefully being cancer-free. It is an honor to showcase Katie’s resilience, and I hope her story will inspire everyone,” Senior Captain and Dig Pink Ambassador Annabelle Gerber said. “We stand with Katie and the Thompson and Lucarelle families and hope to spread awareness. We played this game for all those who have been affected or who are currently being affected by cancer. We play for our community; we play for a cure. When someone in our community is affected by cancer, we fight for them.”

The Side-Out Foundation’s Dig Pink Movement has raised money for breast cancer research through volleyball matches since 2004. The nonprofit provides hope and treatment options for those with metastatic breast cancer. Side-Out’s precision medicine research matches patients with treatments and uses the outcome data produced from this to draw conclusions, challenge the foundations of cancer care, and change the trajectory of the disease.

“We are so proud of the team for showing dedication to this cause by working hard all month to support those affected by breast cancer,” Superintendent Pires said. “Their efforts to help cancer research and how they honor community members such as Katie is truly admirable, and I am grateful to have them represent Medway High School.”