CIRCLING THE HILL
VOLLEYBALL TEAM SERVES UP INSPIRATIONAL
CANCER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN In the spirit of teamwork and compassion, the varsity volleyball team, in partnership with Greatest Good McDonogh (GGM), led a successful Upper School Breast Cancer Awareness Week in the fall of 2022. Inspired by their initial triumph and a continued commitment to community service, they broadened their mission this year to encompass a more comprehensive Cancer Awareness Week, recognizing the widespread impact of various cancers on individuals and families.
“Our goal was to bring the McDonogh community together to make a difference,” shares Ava McKennie ’24, co-captain of the volleyball team. The decision to include all types of cancers was deeply personal for the girls as they recently lost a beloved friend, one of their most ardent supporters, to leukemia. To honor his memory, the team chose to incorporate the color orange—the official hue symbolizing leukemia awareness—into the 2023 fall campaign. Beyond raising awareness, their goal was to make a meaningful donation in their friend’s name to support cancer research at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. To maximize their impact, the volleyball players rallied other Upper School sports teams to join their cause. Throughout the week of October 16, a series of fundraising events took place. Raffles, a free dress day, ribbon sales for a memory board in the Rollins-Luetkemeyer Athletic Center, and lucrative bake sales during Upper and Middle School lunches were among the many activities that showcased the team’s commitment to involving the greater community. Central to their awareness-building and fundraising efforts was the creation and sale of vibrant t-shirts bearing the slogan, “GIVE CANCER THE BOOT!” McKennie shared that the shirts were a big hit with students, teachers, and staff. The entire volleyball team, along with the girls varsity soccer team, wore the shirts as
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their warm-up attire and many fans donned them at games throughout the week. The football team also joined in, selling orange bandanas to further support the cause. An alumnus who witnessed one of the lunchtime bake sales got involved, too. Gerrard Sheppard ’08, owner of Sunset Raw Juice Bar, was so inspired by the students’ initiative that he offered to set up his food truck on campus one afternoon when there were a number of home athletic contests, and he donated all proceeds to the effort. His generosity underscored the contagious nature of the volleyball team’s dedication to doing good! By week’s end, the combined endeavors culminated in an impressive fundraising total of $3,200 dedicated to cancer research. Bridget Collins ’90, Director of GGM, commended the volleyball team, stating, “This is our hope and dream— for students to take hold of something and become passionate about a cause.” GGM Program Manager Artie Spruill echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the inspiring commitment displayed by the student-athletes. The volleyball team’s Cancer Awareness Week highlights the transformative power of sports in bringing people together for a meaningful cause. Collins emphasizes, “Their impactful efforts serve as a reminder that when communities unite they can truly make a substantial and lasting difference.” —Nina Sinnott
