In her 43 years as an educator, Paula Doughty came in contact with students and parents from different walks of life.
The Skowhegan High School field hockey coach and recently retired teacher realized there was a segment of the population that was struggling to pay for medical care.
So she began holding a summer round-robin field hockey tournament for high school teams designed to raise money for those people so they could get medical care.
Now the Battle for Breast Cancer is in its seventh year. Eight high school teams and four middle school teams will participate in the fundraising tournament Saturday at Thomas College in Waterville.
“I came in contact with a lot of people in that situation. The money goes to any working man or woman who is either underinsured or can’t afford health insurance,” the Maine Sports Hall of Fame coach, who has led Skowhegan to 14 state Class A championships over the past 16 seasons, explained.
Doughty said the money covers every kind of expense.
Approximately $130,000 has been raised over the past six years.
Girls on the respective teams have already raised money through a variety of fundraising events leading up to Saturday’s round-robin tourney.
Doughty’s Skowhegan girls manned toll booths in front of the Skowhegan Wal-Mart collecting donations during the fourth of July holiday. They have also held three car washes.
Coach Mary Beth Bourgoin’s Winslow High girls have had a bottle drive, and they have a summer league Monday night, in which all concession sales go to the project.
Doughty said every team will have a booth at the tournament selling food, beverages and items that will go toward the project.
And they will be selling pink balloons for $1 at the tourney and all the balloons will be released into the air at the closing ceremony.
Kelly Alley, a breast care support nurse at the Martha B. Webber Breast Care Center in Farmington, pointed out in a letter that over the past 12 months, more than 80 patients at the Webber Breast Care Center have been helped by the donations.
She wrote that the funds were used for things like diagnostic breast imaging, biopsies, laboratory services, genetic testing, surgical consultations, prosthetics, post-surgical garments and gas cards. She also wrote that during that time, 103 biopsies were done and 28 new breast cancers were diagnosed.
“These donation funds are saving lives and allowing us to care for women who may otherwise choose not to make breast health a priority,” she added.
Doughty said her girls and players from Mt. Blue High School in Farmington were slated to visit the Webber Breast Care Center on Tuesday.
“I want to educate the girls in so many ways that can prepare them for their lives,” Doughty said. “There is a lot of ‘me, me, me’ in this world, and I want them to learn how to give back. I want them never to regret helping others.
“They can make a big difference,” Doughty said.
Winslow Junior High School English teacher Lisa Ericson, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, will be their honorary captain according to Bourgoin.
The opening ceremonies will be held at 2 p.m. and the games will be held at the field hockey and soccer fields at Thomas College beginning at 2:25 to approximately 9 p.m. Each of the eight high school teams will play four 30-minute games and a 25-minute game and the four middle school teams will play a 30-minute game and a 25-minute contest.
It will cost $5 for adults, $3 for students and will be free for kids 5 and under.
The high school teams, in addition to Skowhegan, Mt. Blue and Winslow, will include Messalonskee of Oakland, Winthrop, Dexter, Lawrence of Fairfield and Spruce Mountain of Jay. There are two middle school teams from Skowhegan and one apiece from Winslow and Mt. Blue.
Doughty said she is grateful to Thomas College for providing all the resources and to longtime referees Pam Hennessy and Shannon Whiting for organizing the officials.