The names of this year’s local recipients of donations from the efforts of Sideline Cancer have been announced. These people will be recognized at B-A’s Homecoming football game Friday against Bishop Guilfoyle this Friday

Last week, Sideline Cancer, a local organization that funds patients through the power of sports and whose goal is to find a cure for pancreatic cancer, announced that community members Mark Miner, Tina Brubaker, and Myers Elementary First Grader Ethan Zook, will be the awardees of the funds raised this year.

Sideline Cancer was created by the Griffith family as a way to engage students and communities through sports to raise funds and awareness for pancreatic cancer. When Greg Griffith, husband of co-founder Cathy Griffith, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he asked the doctors how he and his wife could help the doctors. Greg passed away after battling pancreatic cancer for 19 months but after his passing, his family and some of their friends had an idea to create a foundation to raise money for doctors and people suffering from pancreatic cancer.

The Sideline Cancer Organization has raised over $200,000 through all their events since 2012. SC has been sponsoring select Bellwood sporting events over the past few years, starting with a basketball matchup against Williamsburg in 2022 when the group raised funds for Doug Miller, the father of then-B-A student Dawson Miller, who was battling pancreatic cancer. Since that partnership, the community has raised over $15,000 for those affected by cancer in our area.

The following school year, Sideline Cancer games became a yearly part of B-A’s football Homecoming tradition. Members of the Homecoming court sell Sideline Cancer t-shirts each year during their campaign to help raise money for the local recipients.

“The relationship that we have developed with the Sideline Cancer organization has been truly amazing,” said Homecoming organizer Mrs. Allison Stinson. “Combining our Homecoming with this event has become a tradition and one that I am so proud of.  Our kids, our teachers, and our community are inspiring in their desire to help cancer warriors right here in Bellwood. This night, regardless of score or who gets the title of Queen, is always about something bigger…something bigger than sports, something bigger than the crown…something that brings us all together to provide an amazing outpouring of love and hope.”

This year’s total is expected to be a record-breaker compared to the last few years due to the overwhelming number of t-shirts sold through the Homecoming court.

After the announcement of the Homecoming queen, Sideline Cancer representatives, representatives from B-A and Bishop Guilfoyle, and the Homecoming court will gather on the field to recognize the three recipients and announce the total raised by the student body and the community.

As the Griffith family says, please bring your “I Can” attitude and “Believe Always” spirit to Friday night’s football game!