On Saturday, September 29, the Alliance High School boys tennis team held a fundraiser for Coaches vs Cancer. The team met that morning at 10:30 to allow family, friends, experienced players, and people brand new to the sport to challenge their favorite player or players to a match. People who attended also had the opportunity to get a lesson from a player or coach on the team in order to learn the sport or finetune a skill.

Players on the boys tennis team put up flyers around town in local businesses to promote their event, advertising a $5 lunch of sloppy joes, chips, and brownies. The team was also taking free will donations for anyone who challenged a player to a match or wanted a lesson. This event took place at the “old courts” which are by Central Park and the Knight Museum.

Head coach, Sandy Blankenship, got the idea for putting on this event when she went to a coaching camp earlier this year. She thought it would be a good opportunity for people in the community to experience the sport and allow the people of Alliance to help the organization as well.

“I think we had a very good turnout. It was the first time we had an event like this in Alliance, and hopefully in a couple of years it will grow,” says Blankenship.

The event brought a good turnout, collecting a total of over $300 for Coaches vs Cancer. The team was expecting a few more people to show up, but had fun and are willing to do the same event next year and the years to come.

“I hope to improve [the activity] by advertising more around town and getting other sports to challenge the team,” added Coach Blankenship.

The proceeds of over $300 were sent to Coaches vs Cancer. This organization is a collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the NABC that empowers coaches and communities to join the fight against cancer.