Number of Participants: 64
Hours Donated: 4
Value of Time Served: $2,163
Event Type: Health & Medicine
Activity: Girls Basketball
School: Smithtown High School-West
Date: February 3, 2025
Location:
Smithtown West High School
Central Road, Smithtown
NY
About:
On February 3rd, the Smithtown West girls’ basketball team hosted a special Coaches vs. Cancer Night, dedicated to supporting their Relay for Life team.
The event was spearheaded by Coach Katie Schroeder. This year, the team shifted their focus to Relay for Life, following last year’s “Here for Hannah” night, which honored Hannah Waller, the twin sister of team member Mallory Waller. Hannah, a brain cancer survivor, has been actively involved in Relay for Life, along with Smithtown West player Maribella Marciano.
Determined to support Relay for Life’s mission, the team worked to help kick off the 2025 campaign. They raised funds by selling refreshments and arranged for national anthem singers to perform at the game. Every dollar collected went directly to Relay for Life, reinforcing the team’s commitment to both the cause and the larger Smithtown community.
The Booster Club played a crucial role in the event’s success, ensuring that every player wore pink shirts featuring yellow pediatric cancer ribbons. This thoughtful detail was inspired by Hannah Waller, who wanted this year’s event to highlight a broader spectrum of those affected by cancer. Maribella Marciano, who led the team’s efforts for the night, also had an outstanding game on the court.
The game itself was a memorable one, as Smithtown West faced Centereach. Earlier in the season, Centereach had edged them out by a single point, but this time, Smithtown West emerged victorious—both on the scoreboard and in their mission to make a difference.
