FPS staff report
January 28, 2013

Carrollton High School will host the second annual Hoops for Hope basketball game Feb. 15 when the Warriors take on the Minerva Lions.

Hoops for Hope was initiated by the Carrollton Relay for Life Team known as Team Hope in memory of Shelly DeSimone, who waged an 11-year battle with breast cancer.

During her battle, DeSimone dedicated a great deal of time and energy to raising awareness and support for breast cancer research and Relay for Life. Since her son and other family members were active in sports at Carrollton High School, she hoped one day to have a basketball game that promoted breast cancer awareness.

Although DeSimone lost her battle in September 2011, her dream became a reality in 2012 when Team Hope and the CHS Athletic Department combined efforts to sponsor the event.

“The community was behind us 100 percent,” said Taylor Burchfield, DiSimone’s niece and the captain of Team Hope. “Businesses provided items for raffles, donated money, purchased shirts and attended the game.”

The event raised $2,400 which was donated to the American Cancer Society’s Carrollton Relay for Life.

Burchfield hopes to have an even larger response this year. T-shirts are available for purchase in the high school athletic office, at McCort’s in Carrollton and the Lion’s Den in Minerva. Cost is $10 each.

“We are hoping Minerva fans will join the fun and purchase t-shirts to wear that night,” she said. “We are hoping to have a ‘pink out’ in the gym!”

There will be cookies and baked goods available in the gym lobby, pink socks, raffles and a 50-50 drawing.

The junior varsity begins at 6 p.m. with the varsity game set to follow at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Businesses that would like to donate items for the raffles or a cash donation can do so by contacting Burchfield at 330-592-0828 or Jen Marteney at 330-312-1404. Anyone wishing to make a monetary donation can send checks made payable to the Carrollton Athletic Booster Club (please write Hoops for Hope in the memo line) and mail it to Carrollton High School Athletic Department C/O Wendy Davis, 252 Third St. NE, Carrollton, OH 44615. 

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