Southington – The 6th annual This Means War 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament & Chinese Auction will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 8 at Southington Chalker High School to raise money for Erica Immel of Girard, a mother of twin 5-year-old girls who was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer in October.
Immel, 41, and husband, Dan, moved away from their family and friends in New Jersey in 2011 to find an affordable place to live where Erica could stay at home with the twins and they still could begin to rebuild their savings that had been depleted due to the girls’ early births. But now, the Immels face significant out-of-pocket expenses due to Erica’s breast cancer treatments and surgeries. They worry about how they will pay their bills and continue to support their family on only Dan’s salary from West Corp.
“I’ve shed more tears worrying about the bills than I have about the diagnosis,” Immel said.
About the fundraiser:
The double-elimination basketball tournament will feature more than 150 youth and adult players competing for first-place awards that range from trophies to $120 in gift cards to $300 in cash. Divisions are grades 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, adult and a new ladies only division for ladies ages 16 and older. Registration is underway at WarAgainstBreastCancer.webs.com. No game-day registrations will be accepted. Spectators can watch for free.
The Chinese Auction will offer more than 100 quality items up for bid, including four Disney World park hopper passes, Kalahari Resort tickets, a flat-screen TV and scratch-off Lottery ticket tree, as well as gift certificates to family fun parks, sporting events and restaurants. General item tickets are 2 for $1, and specialty item tickets for items valued at $100 or more are $1 each. Winners do not need to be present for the 4:15 p.m. drawing. Admission is free.
The family friendly event, which is sponsored by The Hope Center for Cancer Care and Great Lakes Cheese, also will feature children’s play area and entertainment throughout the day.
The fundraiser is being organized by This Means War Against Breast Cancer Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed in April 2012 to help breast cancer survivors pay their medical expenses not covered by insurance. The all-volunteer group has raised roughly $30,000 for Trumbull County breast cancer survivors since its inaugural fundraiser in 2011.
For more information, visit WarAgainstBreastCancer.webs.com or email This Means War at WarAgainstBreastCancer@hotmail.com.
