Number of Participants: 30
Hours Donated: 5
Value of Time Served: $1,268
Event Amount Raised: $1,849
Event Type: Health & Safety
Sport: Softball
School: Orchard Park High School
Date: May 11, 2022
Location:
Orchard Park Senior High School
Baker Road, Orchard Park
NY
About:
Athletes from both Orchard Park and West Seneca West helped out to make the day happen. West sold Awareness bracelets at their school and made a YOU MATTER banner. Orchard Park did the same. Two athletes: Ella Steward and Ava Farina all prepped/read speeches in between the game to raise awareness.
We’ve been preparing for the game for a few weeks now. I cannot say the exact amount of hours. Some things they did were prep speeches, decorations, make cookies to sell, set up the field on their own. Went around to homerooms to sell bracelets.
We made flyers to hang around the school and field. We posted on social media. We planned speeches. Our motto is correlation with the game was “It’s so much more than just a game”
The girls realize and see on social media the rise in suicide deaths, especially in student/athletes. The pressures and anxiety that they go through trying to balance all that they are enduring can be overwhelming. We wanted to bring back the idea that sports are supposed to be our OUTLET, supposed to FUN. They want to stop the rise and let everyone know that it is okay to not be okay, it’s okay to seek out help when needed. Ava Farina talked in her speech how student/athletes keep things all bundled up inside and try to hide it with a fake smile. She talked about the importance of letting friends and family know you care and love them, to check in with them. Ella Stewart talked about the alarming rates. She also spoke about a former athlete (local softball player)that she and her sister were close with, who took her own life. Maddie Stewart (Ella’s older sister) wore #32 throughout her career at St. Bonaventure and she framed her jersey and gave it to the girl’s mom yesterday at our game in honor of her daughter.
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We are beyond thankful for all of your donations and support last week as joined together with WSW to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention. Together, we raised $1,849.25. All proceeds go directly to the Mental Health Advocates of WNY.