The 2009 Monarch softball team was able to raise an astonishing $4,102.00 to donate to the Linda L. Vladyka Breast Wellness Foundation.

Since the event back in August 2009 when the raised funds were announced, there has been two dominating questions that our team has been asked. Question one is, what inspired our team to take the time and energy to raise such an extensive amount of money.  And question two is, how we were able to raise those funds.

The inspiration behind raising the funds was a number of things… During the 2008 tournament my husband Jason Ford was coaching the Monarch Seed team, I happened to be absent, expecting our second child. Neither Jason nor I had ever participated in the tournament prior, so we were very naive to the depth and reality of what this tournament was all about. Jason had received a donation through his work of $100.00. That concluded our team’s contributions.

When Jason got home that night from the ending ceremony at the tournament, I will never forget that look he had. He was so quiet and had a look of disappointment on his face. The very first thing out of his mouth was “I’m so embarrassed” “I had NO idea that tournament would be so empowering.” With me not able to attend the tournament, Jason went on to share how survivors came out onto the field and through the first pitch of each game, getting to play with “survivor” or “in memory of” balls. As he continued to share his experience I found myself getting teary eyed, having my own friends and family members “hit” by cancer I felt for all those out there.

That night Jason and I made a pact to one another that we would do whatever we could possibly do to help support the cause in the 2009 tournament. Needless to say that’s just what we did, with a team goal of $4,000.00, we began our own battle.

Between Jason and I, and our team, we are a very competitive group of people. Our team put 100% into raising funds for the foundation. Some of the ways we were able to hit our team goal was by having car washes on Saturdays, holding a Pampered Chef fundraiser, and having a “prize drawing”, making phone calls to local businesses and last but not least having a rummage sale.

Yes I know this sounds like a lot but we love doing it and I hope we can do just as well this year.