The Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs senior girls basketball team will hit a milestone for their annual Victor Elias Memorial Shoot for a Cure basketball tournament this year.
The tournament, which serves as a fundraiser for the fight against cancer, is entering its 10th year. The Elecs will open the tournament on Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. against Lumsden, in what is billed as their annual pink game, in which they wear pink uniforms. Other teams also don pink for the tournament.
“It’s all about paying it forward and helping those in our community who battle cancer,” said coach Jessie Smoliak. “I feel the girls learn a very valuable lesson with our home tournament.”
It also hits close to home for her as the tournament is named in honour of her father.
“He was always so generous and thoughtful of others,” said Smoliak. “He was always so proud of my former teams for giving back and helping those in need. He never missed a pink tournament before his loss to cancer. He loved watching my girls play, as he loved watching me play when I was in high school and college.”
Kerri Lawson, Dyan Haux, Shelia Kobitz and Kristy Jones are the four tournament parent organizers. Smoliak said they are the big planners of the activities to help fundraise.
There will be a raffle table and some sideline games, and Christa Kurtz will be raffling off a quilt that she has made herself.
Bill Mann will be this year’s beneficiary of the tournament proceeds. His daughter is a counsellor at the school, so it is meaningful to the students as they know her very well.
Smoliak noted they have invited past tournament beneficiaries and their families to attend the competition this year as well.
