Number of Participants: 32
Hours Donated: 10
Value of Time Served: $2,704
Event Type: Health & Medicine
Sport: Girls Volleyball
Date: October 15, 2024
Location:
Somerset Berkley Regional High School
County Street, Somerset
MA
About:
For over a decade, the Somerset Berkley volleyball team has dedicated their annual Dig Pink game to raising awareness for breast cancer and honoring those affected by various forms of cancer. This longstanding tradition extends throughout October, with the team wearing pink uniforms all month long, serving as a visible reminder of their commitment to cancer awareness and community support.
Each year, the team selects a cause to support, channeling their fundraising efforts toward organizations that have touched their lives directly. In past years, they’ve raised funds for a teacher in the Somerset district battling breast cancer, supported The Cure Starts Now foundation in memory of a player’s little sister who passed away from brain cancer, and assisted a player’s mother during her battle with lymphoma. This season, funds were split between The National Breast Cancer Foundation and The Tomorrow Fund in memory of Zachary Deane, a beloved Somerset Berkley athlete who tragically passed away last summer before beginning his senior year.
Through their Dig Pink game, the team not only brings awareness to breast cancer but also honors those battling all types of cancer, underscoring the importance of supporting each other through difficult times.
In addition to their cancer awareness efforts, the team recently participated in a 5k/fun run hosted by the Somerset Berkley Education Foundation. This annual event, which drew over 175 participants this year, helps fund grants that encourage creativity and excellence within Somerset and Berkley schools. The volleyball team’s presence at the event highlighted their dedication to fostering school spirit and supporting educational initiatives.
The team’s community engagement goes beyond events and fundraisers. Every spring, they run a volleyball clinic for Somerset middle school students, led by current high school players and overseen by program coaches. Many athletes have fallen in love with teaching and, inspired by these clinics, have gone on to coach school and club teams after graduation. Witnessing athletes come full circle from player to coach has become one of the program’s most rewarding outcomes.
Through cancer awareness efforts, community involvement, and youth development, Somerset Berkley volleyball has proven time and again that their impact goes far beyond the court.