High School Powder Puff football teams from Walker Valley, Bradley Central, Meigs County and Polk County participated in the first Pink Ribbon Bowl.
Money was raised through tickets to the game, selling programs and vendors at the event. Ticket sales alone brought in close to $7,000, according to Webb.
The donation check was presented to Cindy Pare of the MaryEllen Locher Foundation at Walker Valley High School this week.
Pare said the Cleveland community has been very generous to the foundation, and she hopes to see fundraising efforts continue to grow.
The idea for the football fundraiser started with Scott Webb, a business teacher at Walker Valley High School.
“I wanted to do something local,” Webb said.
Choosing the Mary Ellen Locher foundation was inspired by English teacher Gwen Lane’s current battle with breast cancer.
Lane helped Webb brainstorm the event and make it a success, he said. Webb said Bradley Central and Walker Valley have also had students receive scholarship from the foundation. Scott sent letters to area schools asking them to be a part, and the four schools responded.
More than 100 students played and several other students volunteered at the event, according to Webb.
In addition to participating in the football game, some schools also organized fundraising events in conjunction with the game.
“Meigs County High School did an outstanding job,” Webb said.
The school raised $1,500 for the foundation in a school fundraiser before the game.
Connye Rowland with Coordinated School Health in Meigs County said it was exciting to see the students playing for a cause, and enjoying it.
In game action, the Polk girls won against Meigs County and Walker Valley won against Bradley Central.
Planners who brought the event together are hoping it becomes an annual fundraiser. Webb said he already has ideas to make it better next year. Rowland said the students have also expressed interest in doing it again
Although not connected with the Volley For a Cure fundraiser at Lee University, Webb said Volley volunteers served as one of the game’s vendors.
The MaryEllen Locher Foundation provides scholarships to children whose mothers are survivors or have lost a parent to breast cancer. Pare said the foundation was established to provide college opportunities because her children’s college education was a major concern for Locher during her battle with breast cancer. Locher died in June 2005.
