UD Field Hockey Corners for Cancer Raises Money for the Cause

Upper Dublin’s 9th annual Corners for Cancer game on Saturday raised over $9,700 and represented the culminating project for the seniors on the squad. Photos provided by Upper Dublin field hockey.
This article is sponsored on behalf of the Upper Dublin field hockey team by Adam Simmens, Certified Public Accountant.

The white ribbon in Maddie Templeton’s hair simply had G-dad written on it, but the significance of that one word was profound for the Upper Dublin senior, whose grandfather, Edward Hales, lost his battle with lung cancer on Aug. 16.

“My grandfather was always an extremely strong person,” the senior captain said. “He was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in June, so it was a really quick downhill spiral.

“Seeing him deteriorate – because I saw it firsthand, it was really hard to see.”

Saturday’s Coaches for Cancer event when the Flying Cardinals took on Upper Moreland was an opportunity for Templeton and her teammates to honor those who have or still are battling the disease.

Captain Allie DeMichele honored her mother, Stacey Weiss, and grandmother, Betty Weiss.

“My grandmother and my mom both had breast cancer,” said DeMichele. “My grandmother went through radiation and she was fine. My mom had to go through chemo, so she lost all her hair, but she’s in remission now. That was four years ago. She was recognized two years ago, so that was definitely hard.”

Corners for Cancer was much more than simply a chance for those in attendance to reflect on how cancer has affected their lives. 

The Cardinals raised more than $9,700 that will be donated to the National Foundation for Cancer Research.  The event was the culminating project for the seniors on the squad.

“The seniors take control of it,” DeMichele said. “We have been part of it since freshman year, and every year we do a little bit more because we’re involved more.

“As seniors, we really take it over.”

“We had meeting in June to discuss what we were going to do,” Templeton said. “We came up with different ideas for fundraisers.

“This year we did something new. We did a carwash at the high school, and that brought in an extra thousand dollars.”

“Because it was for a specific cause, people are so much more willing to give,” DeMichele said. “It’s really cool even to see that. When the community people drive by and see it’s for cancer, they’ll give 20 bucks.”

The Flying Cardinals held their first Corners for Cancer in 2008 to honor Mary Kay Greenwood, who passed away in 2013 after a long battle with breast cancer but left behind “a legacy of strength, courage and eternal hope for all.”

This year's event brings the nine-year total donated to the cause to over $61,000.

“We had the most money going into today - $6,500,” Templeton said. “Last year they set it at $10,000 and reached it, so it was setting the bar high for us.”

“Even a few weeks ago we were like, ‘I don’t think we’re going to make it,’” DeMichele said. “But we went really hardcore the past few weeks and got a few more raffle baskets and got everyone really involved.”

“That’s been the challenge,” said UD coach Heather Boyer. “Now that we’ve done this for so many years – (the challenge) is trying to find new and innovative ways to raise funds if you’re going to try and match or supersede the previous year. The carwash was a great idea. They raised a thousand dollars just on that, which was awesome.

“Forty-two raffle baskets are by far the most we’ve ever had. It’s a nice showing not just by the seniors but even the underclassmen who got involved. There have been a lot of people getting the word out to their friends and their family.

“I’m fortunate enough to have a very good friends and family network that’s been supportive of this for the past nine years because sometimes when you keep tapping into the same resources, eventually you would expect them to (dry) up a little bit. Places like Longstreth, the Philadelphia Phillies and Spring-Ford Country Club have been perennial contributors that every year come through, which is important.”

Receiving special recognition at Saturday’s event was Patti DiFulgo, mother of UD player Shannon. DiFulgo spent the last year battling colorectal cancer.

“Now you really see the impact, especially bringing in a parent from our team who’s been affected,” Templeton said. “It really showed a lot about the team – on the field and off the field coming together for a specific cause.

“Everyone trying to get help from the community – it shows how everyone unites for this cause. This is not just in the school – we want to support a greater cause.”

Templeton went into Saturday’s day wanting to score a goal. With just over five minutes remaining in the game, the senior captain found the cage. Edward Hales was undoubtedly smiling.

Seniors on this year's squad in addition to Templeton and DeMichele are Bailey Broderick, Ashley Bonanni, Sarah Herchenroder, Sydney Leaming, Molly Lunney and Emma Mead.

UPPER DUBLIN 5, UPPER MORELAND 1
The Flying Cardinals capped their Corners for Cancer event with a convincing win over the visiting Golden Bears.
Allie Rock broke a scoreless tie at the 16:34 mark of the first half, using a Ryann Kullmann assist. Molly Lunney set up a pair of goals in the final 1:34 – the first by Maisie Hanson and the second by Lauren Greene - to send the Cardinals into halftime with a 3-0 halftime lead.
Phoebe Longstreth put the Bears on the board 12 minutes into the second half, and that 3-1 score stood until Maddie Templeton found the cage with 5:26 remaining, using Lunney’s third assist of the game. Rock’s second goal – this one with a Templeton assist – closed out the scoring.
Sarah Herchenroder (one save) and Meghan Muth (two saves) combined in goal for the win. UM goalie Cassidy Murphy recorded eight saves.
Upper Dublin had 18 shots on goal and four corners while UM had nine shots and eight corners.
Upper Dublin (10-6, 9-5 SOL) will host Pennsbury on Wednesday in a non-league game, and Upper Moreland (6-10, 5-9) will host Upper Merion on Monday.
Upper Moreland         1-0   1
Upper Dublin              3-2   5

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