Skowhegan field hockey coach Paula Doughty organized the first Battle For Breast Cancer in 2011, to raise money for the Martha B. Webber Breast Care Center in Farmington. Skowhegan was joined by Mt. Blue, Nokomis and Winslow in a four-team round-robin at Colby College.
“I was hoping we’d make $1,000, so I wouldn’t look foolish,” Doughty said.
The event raised $14,000, over $20,000 the next year, and $26,000 last summer. On Friday, eight field hockey teams will play from 3:30-9 p.m. at Thomas College in the Battle For Breast Cancer — Round 4.
This year’s eight teams are Lawrence, Leavitt, Messalonskee, Mt. Blue, Mt. View, Nokomis, Skowhegan and Winslow. There will be two games at a time on the fields at Thomas.
“Last year we raised $26,000, so our goal is to supersede that,” Doughty said.
Doughty said 100 percent of the money raised goes to help working people in the central Maine area who are uninsured or under-insured. The use of “people” instead of “women” is intentional.
“Men have breast cancer, too,” Doughty said. “They have it a lot more than we know about.”
Doughty said the money is earmarked toward working people because so many of them struggle to pay the costs involved with a breast cancer diagnosis or even testing.
“The hospital says we’re a godsend,” Doughty said. “We’ve helped tons and tons and tons of people.”
Thomas College donates the use of its fields, and last year Pam Hennessey and Shannon Whiting rounded up 15 officials, who worked the round-robin for free. Each team will run either a ticket, 50/50, or snack booth on Friday, and coordinated its own fundraising prior to the event. The players also had the opportunity to tour the breast care center on Wednesday.
As usual, each team will be wearing some form of pink in their uniforms. There will also be a closing ceremony at 9:10 p.m., including a playing of the Melissa Etheridge song, “I Run for Life.”
“The closing ceremony is always really emotional,” Doughty said. “There’s never a dry eye in the house.”
Admission for Friday’s event is $5 for adults and $2 for students. If you can’t attend but still wish to donate, you can do so here or you can mail your donation to Lauri Blanchet, P.O. Box 2018, Skowhegan, ME 04976. Checks can be made payable to the Franklin Community Health Network.
Matt DiFilippo — 861-9243
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