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Date: 12/26/2018
EAST LONGMEADOW – For the past 9 years a group of individuals come together to host a Racquetball Party around the holiday season in an effort to raise money for the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR.) This year the event raised more than $14,000 for the Association’s efforts to eliminate cancer.
Member of the Cancer Research Event team Paul Stierer explained to Reminder Publishing how the event came to be.
“Nine years ago we [racquetball players] were playing in area tournaments. At the time, they were very competitive events and we were playing two or three days of a weekend. Maybe you got some food and a t–shirt or a trophy, but at the end of the day it wasn’t what really motivated us to join the racquetball fraternity or sorority,” Stierer said. “We were there for the social aspects–to have a good time with good friends.”
The group of racquetball players decided that they enjoyed the format of the tournaments, but they wanted the tournament to be for a good cause. They chose the AACR as it was a charity that covers all types of cancer as opposed to supporting just one.
“There are a number of great, great charities out there. This one just seemed to stand out. There are so many kinds of cancer, it’s very saddening, but the AACR seemed to provide an umbrella for many cancer fighting organizations, and we appreciate the research they’re doing and the high percentage of all the dollars that come in that are dedicated to the research,” Stierer stated.
Since choosing the AACR for their annual event, each year the funds raised has grown.
“The first party was 9 years ago, we held it at the Healthtrax in West Springfield,” he explained. We’ve grown from raising $1,000 that first year to this past year where we raised a total of $14,000, and we’ve done that through the tremendous support of local communities, businesses and the racquetball players. It’s grown every year.”
East Longmeadow’s Healthtrax has hosted the event for the past four years. Stierer noted that each year, all of the proceeds have gone to the AACR.
“Everything has been donated, from the food, to the signs and cardstock for the certificates we give out. None of the proceeds we’ve collected on our end have gone to anything but AACR,” he said.
Sponsors that contributed to the event include many local businesses as well as larger area companies.
"The support has been widespread, ranging from the Greater Springfield Credit Union to the Family Bike Shop and TigerPress in East Longmeadow to the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Springfield Museums. We had over 60 sponsors that in some way, shape or form supported it [the event] this year," he shared. "It's really blossomed. What I really respect and appreciate is that even though the local businesses are being bombarded with requests for charitable donations this time of year, the way they've opened their hearts for this particular organization is heartening to see."
In addition to the work of putting on the event with the Cancer Research Event team, the East Longmeadow High School (ELHS) Key Club worked with the group to add a unique perspective. Not only did the students solicit local businesses for raffle prizes, but they attended the event itself and were hands–on, passing out t–shirts, serving food and more.
“It was our first experience with them and they’re a great bunch of kids,” Stierer said of the ELHS Key Club. “They’re a lot of fun, and their work ethic was terrific. We made a presentation to the Key Club before we got the event up and rolling and they were so receptive and had great suggestions to help us raise money.”
Other individuals on this year’s event committee included Ginger Rasid, Dino Tranghese, Ernie Gagnon and Jason Chew alongside Stierer.