Four Illinois high school basketball teams fundraise for local girl battling cancer
MT. ZION, Ill. — Go 4 The Goal is a nation-wide non profit that helps kids with cancer. Their mission is “to improve the lives of children battling cancer by providing financial support, developing and implementing unique hospital programs, funding innovative research, and granting personal wishes.” The non-profit offers a variety of ways to get involved including adopt-a-family and back-to-school backpacks, but their main source of income is through their Lacing Up for Pediatric Cancer.
This program, Lacing Up For Pediatric Cancer, starts when one team decides to fundraise and they get their opposing team on board as well. Both teams purchase gold laces for 5 dollars, with 4 of those dollars going to kids with cancer that live in the same state. An online fundraising page can be set up, along with cash donations during the game, where 100% of the donations go to the children.
Earlier this year four local girls basketball teams joined together for the common goal of fundraising for Go 4 The Goal during two of their basketball games. Mt. Zion High School girls played Taylorville High School, and Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond (ALAH) played Tri County, but all four teams were really playing for one young girl: Shoni Anderson, a 6 year old battling leukemia, and my sister.
Shoni’s older sister, Denver, plays on the Mt. Zion Varsity team. Shoni’s presence is felt by all of the teammates, as well as the spectators at the game as they watch her run around and play. She is loved by the community, and the team wanted to do something to help give back to Shoni and other kids who are battling cancer.
During their Lacing Up For Shoni game, both ALAH and Tri-county players and coaches wore t-shirts with Shoni’s name and handwriting. They made sure to not only make this fundraiser important for Go 4 The Goal, but also for the little girl in their community. The teams came together to raise money and awareness for pediatric cancer.
This day was so special for Shoni as she was able to see how much the community loved her and supported her in her fight against cancer. She says “It was awesome!” Not only was the day awesome for her, but the four teams, with the help of donations from the community and shirt sales, raised over $2,000 for Go 4 The Goal. Shoni is so happy that she got to have this special day, while also helping other kids who are battling, just like her.
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