Sunday, March 15, 2009 marks the day for the 4th annual Hoops for Hope Women’s Basketball Tournament benefiting the Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation.
The tournament will be held at Marist College at 9:00 a.m. using 10 half courts for 3 on 3 competitions. Forty teams will participate. Spectators are welcome.
Foundation Founder Cathy Varunok said: “All of the sports competitions that we sponsor are designed to be a friendly message emphasizing the benefits of exercise to all women. Goals for Hope Women’s Soccer Tournament in August and this basketball tournament are not about winning or losing, but about participating and recognizing that we can be proactive about our health.”
Tournament Chairman Maureen Seipp remembers playing basketball in high school as a highlight of her adolescence: “I always loved basketball and the camaraderie with my teammates and I have missed it since high school. With this tournament we have attracted everyone from former college players to basketball moms who are tired of sitting on the sidelines. Most have a connection to breast cancer and they are either playing in honor or memory of a loved one or friend.”
This year Miles of Hope honors Mary Ann Leddy, mother of a staunch Miles of Hope volunteer Shannon Leddy, and a 25 year survivor of breast cancer. Mary Ann was diagnosed at a time when medical technology and programs were not as advanced as they are now and survival was not an automatic outcome. She too is a fighter and an inspiration to us all, raising a family, volunteering in her community and reminding us that nutrition and exercise – taking care of yourself – are key components to a long and healthy life.
The Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity with a mission to fund support services for people affected by breast cancer in the Hudson Valley, NY.
For more information: Maureen Seipp – 845-705-8024 or Cathy Varunok – 845-464-6882
Visit the Hoops for Hope page on Active.com.
