Hartnell picks up 62-60 win on Panthers vs Cancer Night

On February 9, 2018 the Hartnell Women’s Basketball Team along with the Men’s Team featured the Coaches vs Cancer game. This state trend allows teams to raise money for any cancer research organizations through admissions. For this year, the Women’s Basketball Team decided to donate to a local cancer research organization, Key for a Cure. This was very personal for Hartnell Women’s Basketball Coach Destiny Grijalva as her nephew, Matthew Robert Pierce, battled with cancer and ultimately passed in 2013. The Grijalva family has since dedicated their lives to finding a cure. “To watch the years go by and the effects of cancer treatment had on my nephew, I wanted to raise more awareness for our local families,” expressed Coach Grijalva. “Key for a Cure is a local foundation raising awareness and advocating to find a cure by fundraising and funding current cancer research. To think 100% of Key for a Cure money raised goes toward finding cure for cancer is amazing.” With just three remaining games on the schedule the lady Panthers wanted to finish the season strong and that’s what they did in their game against De Anza, defeating the team 62-60 in the final seconds. The game was dedicated to those who have been affected by cancer in some way. Key for a Cure Foundation was formed in 2015 to support pediatric cancer research. The mission of the foundation is to raise funds to directly support pediatric cancer research that will lead to more effective treatments for children with cancer. The foundation is currently working to raise funds for T-cell based Immunotherapy research, conducted at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The foundation has raised $250,000 during its first year. Thank you to all who attended the game and helped contribute to a good cause. Go Panthers!