For most athletes, sports are all about living in the moment.
However, under Sideline Cancer, athletes play for something a lot bigger than just winning a game.
No one knows that more than Mrs. Ali Stinson, who has forged a relationship with the charitable group and brought it to Bellwood-Antis in several ways. Not only does she help run homecoming; whose main goal is to help raise money for Sideline Cancer, but she also managed to get her softball team sponsored by the organization.
“I am grateful and blessed to be involved with this organization, their mission, and their willingness to give so much back to those people that are fighting one of life’s toughest battles. I am a firm believer that God puts people where he needs them, and I am honored to be able to help others while creating opportunities for our students to make a positive impact in our world,” Mrs. Stinson said.
Sideline Cancer is an organization that strives to “harness the uplifting power of high school and college sports to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those facing cancer, fostering an “I Can Attitude & Believe Always Spirit!” They partner with several high schools and colleges to raise money for cancer patients. This year they helped Bellwood-Antis raise $5,260 for local residents Lacey Hanna and Trisha Beeler to support their battles with cancer.
Mrs. Stinson was introduced to the organization in early 2022 when Pat Cassidy; the former boys basketball coach, contacted Jordan Griffith about hosting a Sideline Cancer game. This was done to help Bellwood-Antis senior basketball player Dawson Miller’s dad, Doug. Mrs. Stinson learned more about their mission to provide hope and raise awareness for cancer research, and immediately asked herself how she could help.
She became the point person in the school for the sale of Sideline t-shirts and formed a relationship with Cathy Griffith (founder of the Griffith Family Foundation & Sideline Cancer), and her son. Through working with Sideline Cancer, she said, she’s had the opportunity to talk with some of the strongest people anyone could ever meet.
“Their perseverance, dedication, and faith is inspiring and makes playing/planning for something BIGGER such a joy!” Mrs. Stinson said.
Mrs. Griffith, said Mrs. Stinson’s go-getter mindset has been perfect for the organization.
“Mrs. Stinson has great ideas with an entrepreneurial spirit,” Mrs. Griffith said. “She does a tremendous job engaging the community and bringing the school and Sideline Cancer together to help cancer patients. She’s an amazing leader in the Bellwood-Antis school district, being able to see the opportunity with bringing everything together like the school, the community, and homecoming.”
As a former college athlete – Mrs. Stinson played two sports in college along with being a 1,000 point scorer in her high school basketball team and a record setting pitcher – Mrs. Stinson is aware of the impact sports has on players, their family, and even the whole community, which is why she forged a relationship with Sideline Cancer and her softball team. Through the success of The Basketball Tournament (TBT) and the Sideline Cancer entry, the “I CAN” attitude and “BELIEVE ALWAYS” spirit has spread nationally and internationally.
It’s not just sports that impact players, but the coaches themselves. Mrs. Stinson is what’s known as a ‘transformational’ coach, not just one who cares about the sport but about her players too. When asking her players, they had nothing but kind words to say about her. “Mrs. Stinson was the one who got me where I am today. She is such a big supporter, and a great person to be around. She has shown me not only what it is to be a good coach, but a great Christian. She is my biggest role model,” said Freshman Hayden Taylor.
Classmate Karlie Sweigert agreed and said their relationship went beyond just a player and a coach, “There are so many ways Mrs. Stinson has impacted my life, like being a great rule model and someone I look up too. She is kind-hearted and cares for others. Mrs. Stinson is truly someone I want to be when I grow up. She is my coach, but is there for me like a best friend.”
The idea of playing for something bigger was truly inspiring for Mrs. Stinson, and she was hopeful that she could start a travel softball team, since there were already AAU basketball teams playing under that name.
Mrs. Stinson is now currently the executive director of Sideline Cancer Athletics softball and the head coaches of one of the premier travel teams in the area. In her role, Mrs. Stinson oversees teams at the 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, and 16U levels while focusing on coaching the 14U club. The Sideline Cancer 14U team not only won most of its tournaments last summer, but recently moved up a rank to 16U for a fall tournament in Indiana, Pa., which the girls won.
Last summer alone they went 47-8-2 with 5 tournament championships, 2 second place finishes, and 1 third place finish. Including the last two years, they currently stand at 83-22-3, with 10 tournament championships. The team hasn’t finished lower than the top 4 in any tournament!
“With the blessing of Kathy, Jordan and the Sideline Cancer organization, we created Sideline Cancer Softball in conjunction with Sideline Cancer. Sideline Cancer Athletics and The Greg and Cathy Griffith Family Foundation. This partnership provides opportunities for girls that are dedicated to softball and want to play at high level; however, that is not the main goal,” Mrs. Stinson said.
Since the goal is to play for something “Bigger than Softball”, each tournament the softball team plays, they dedicate those games to someone that is fighting cancer or in memory of someone that was a cancer warrior. Over the past three years, they have played for over 30 people and have brought awareness to their story.
“At the end of the day, we understand that the outcome of our game is not as important as the opportunity we have to play, as so many of the children, teens, and people we play for wish they could have the chance to step out onto the field,” said Mrs. Stinson. “It changes the perspective and has helped so many people understand that it is truly ‘bigger than softball.'”
This message of playing for a cause continues with the players, “ Playing for this team is an amazing opportunity and I am so grateful to be playing for something bigger than softball. Our team supports people who are going through hard times and I am so glad I can be apart of it,” said Sweigert.
Another responsibility Mrs. Stinson has is helping to run Bellwood-Antis’ homecoming. She’s the person who sells tickets and helps the homecoming court get ready and to try and get them to sell t-shirts, the proceeds of which go towards Sideline Cancer.
For the past three seasons, the festivities at halftime of the annual Homecoming game have included making a donation to a local person dealing with cancer in the name of Sideline Cancer.
“Our community continues to rally around its members and it’s truly a beautiful thing to witness,” Mrs. Stinson said.
It began with the 2022 basketball game and grew from there.
In winter 2022, we raised $,1000 for Doug Miller, The next fall 2022, we raised $3,500 for Jeff Wright, and in 2023, with the help of the Bishop Guilfoyle community, $5,250 was raised for Melody Plummer,” Mrs. Stinson recalled. “This year, $5,260 was raised for Lacey Hanna and the family of Trisha Beeler. In just those past four events, the community has raised over $15,000 for cancer patients in our community, with more money being raised each year.”
It’s a story of success that continues to grow, while the Sideline Cancer softball team, with it’s young but talented roster, continues to win and win and win. It’s apparent Mrs. Stinson was the right leader for both wings of the Sideline Cancer group, and the future looks bright on both ends with her in charge.