Fundraiser a slam-dunk for breast cancer

By Jasminee Sahoye

Cheryl Lewis-Thurab of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation accepts the donation from the Shoot for the Cure Basketball Showcase organized by Kareem Griffin, who lost his mom to breast cancer. Photo by Peter Tang
Cheryl Lewis-Thurab of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation accepts the donation from the Shoot for the Cure Basketball Showcase organized by Kareem Griffin, who lost his mom to breast cancer.
Photo by Peter Tang

Thanks to the Shoot for the Cure Basketball Showcase at Ryerson’s Kerr Hall Gymnasium, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation has scored an additional $1,400-plus for its Paint Your School Pink program.

Through Paint Your School Pink, started four years ago, the foundation’s Ontario Region has seen donations more than doubled from schools that have organized fundraising events, said Cheryl Lewis-Thurab, the foundation’s community events specialist.

“The response to the Paint Your School Pink program has been great. Each year we’ve seen more and more schools join the program to help raise funds and awareness on behalf of the foundation. It’s great to see younger people getting involved and doing something positive.

“We currently have over 150 schools participating in events across Ontario and have seen donations more than double from 2010 to present. An example is Everest College which contributed over $25,000 in their first year of fundraising on behalf of the Foundation.”

Last Friday, Incharge Sports & Entertainment teamed up with the foundation to host the first Shoot for the Cure Basketball Showcase at Ryerson, which brought together young ladies from four GTA schools – Bill Crothers, Oakwood C.I., St. Pope John Paul II and St. Edmund Campion.

Lewis-Thurab noted that the event organizer, Kareem Griffin, is a basketball coach and has worked with many of these players. “Having lost his mother to breast cancer five years ago, he is determined to help bring awareness of this disease. By turning his trial into triumph he has set an example for others to follow. We are very fortunate to have individuals like Kareem taking the lead on initiatives such as this.”

She hopes more fund raising events will be initiated to help make a difference in the lives of others. “There is no minimum or maximum amount that schools are expected to fundraise. Every cent counts!”

For more about Paint Your School Pink or to organize a school event, please visit www.cbcf.org/schools.