Number of Participants: 30
Hours Donated: 10
Value of Time Served: $2,535
Event Amount Raised: $1,800
Event Type: Health & Medicine
Sport: Girls Basketball
Date: January 24, 2025
Location:
Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School
Lincoln Road, Sudbury
MA
About:
On a Friday night, the Lincoln-Sudbury girls’ basketball team took the court with a greater purpose, proudly wearing gray ribbons and “Hoops 4 Hope” warmup shirts in honor of loved ones lost to brain cancer.
Starters Evie Schwartz, Alice Wallerstein, and Sarah Poland have all experienced personal loss—Schwartz’s father, Ken, in 2021; Wallerstein’s sister, Lea, in 2019; and Poland’s grandfather, Bill Moros, years ago. Determined to turn their grief into action, the three players, with support from their families and community, organized a special night to raise awareness and funds for brain cancer research.
The event was a success both on and off the court. The Warriors (10-2), ranked 18th in the Globe Top 20, secured a hard-fought 46-40 victory over Bridgewater-Raynham while raising $1,800 for the National Brain Tumor Society and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.
A touching addition to the night was the “Hope Wall” outside the gym, where attendees wrote messages and honored loved ones affected by cancer. Despite the emotional weight of the evening, the players focused on joy and community.
“It wasn’t about despair and sadness,” said Lincoln-Sudbury coach Howie Landau. “It was about happiness, and the emotion of bringing the community together.”
The initiative was inspired by a breast cancer awareness event led by Poland, Wallerstein, and the L-S volleyball team last fall. With their shared experiences as motivation, they worked to create a similar impact through basketball.
L-S athletic director Dan Lee praised the students’ leadership: “These initiatives reflect the heart of our community—where people come together not just to raise awareness, but to actively support and honor causes that make a lasting impact.”
For Schwartz, playing basketball has become a way to keep her father’s memory alive. She often recalls how he listened to Eminem’s Lose Yourself before chemotherapy and surgery—now, she draws strength from it before games.
Wallerstein, who wears No. 21 in honor of her sister, designed the event’s T-shirts and ensured that the night remained uplifting. “She was never sad, always upbeat. I want to make sure everyone on the team is smiling and having a fun time, even though it was an emotional night,” she said.
Poland, reflecting on her grandfather’s legacy, views basketball as an outlet and a way to channel her emotions.
Through shared grief, these three athletes have built an unbreakable bond, finding strength in each other and their sport. “We’re all close even without it, but it’s brought us closer,” Wallerstein said.
Their efforts are a testament to the power of sports to inspire, heal, and bring people together for a meaningful cause.
