The Elon Softball team hosted another fundraising event, this time it was for cancer. The #HomeRunsForHope event, a home run derby, took place on Monday, Oct. 20 with three teams compiled from all corners of the university to compete for the cause.
"A couple our young ladies and spoke to our associate head coach, and they wanted to do a fundraiser, for all cancers," said Head Softball Coach Kathy Bocock.
Events like #HomeRunsForHope mean a lot to the Elon Softball players and coaches, but for sophomore UT Katie Rufo, the event hits closer to home.
"Both my parents have cancer, my mother is a breast-cancer survivor, and my father is currently fighting, colon and thyroid cancer, so it's great to give back to people that have helped me in my past, and help the community that needs in right now," Rufo said.
Members of the softball team say events like these are what bring together teams. Players and coaches were especially excited for Monday's Home Run Derby.
"We're just so happy, we've been talking about it for a couple weeks... and everyone's like, 'I can't wait for the home run derby; I'm so excited.' and I'm like, I can't wait either," Rufo said.
Elon Softball's "Home Runs For Hope Home Run Derby" was organized in an effort to support cancer patients.
All proceeds from Monday's event went to the ARMC Charitable Foundation and The Jimmy Fund, both of which help raise money for cancer research and treatment.
"Cancer is an awful disease, and for us, our young ladies are really big on trying to give back to the community and give back to anything we can give back to," said Coach Bocock.
Each team donated $20 for entry, and with a bake sale and a raffle, a total of about $1,000 (per Elon Athletics) was raised. Coach Bocock believes that it's not about the amount of money that was raised, it's the fact that money was raised.
"We didn't really have an end-goal," Bocock said. "Even a dollar, we would have reached our goal because we wanted to give something back...but I think it's going to exceed everything that we've probably wanted"