Charity game raises money for a cause

Kellenberg and Sacred Heart Academy teamed up with the Mary Ruchalski Foundation for a charity basketball game between the two Catholic high school girls’ JV and Varsity teams.

The Play 4 Mary campaign was created in 2020 in memory of Mary Ruchalski, a Rockville Centre native who died in 2018 at the age of 12 after being treated for rhabdomyosarcoma — a rare form of cancer.

For the last five years, the campaign has hosted several charity sporting events, from volleyball to field hockey, with the goal of raising money for the organization and spreading awareness of pediatric cancer.

Lauren Marquardt, a Sacred Heart Academy senior student, and captain of the Varsity basketball team, who was close friends with Mary through their mutual love of basketball, coordinated the charity event, which took place back in January.

“This was the year that she wanted to do it and make it as special as possible,” her mother, Renee Marquardt said. “I was overwhelmed by the two school communities coming together to show support.”

Each team was so enthusiastic about the match that they created their own Play 4 Mary T-shirts with their team logo on the back, and all of the girls who played were given gold bows worn during the game.

To help raise money for the foundation both of the schools put together a community bake sale in the front lobby. They also each offered up a week of summer camp, which was raffled off, and helped solicit pledges from donors based on the number of three-pointers scored during the game.

“The day could not have gone any better, as we set a true example of what playing for children who don’t have a chance to play, should be,” Lauren Marquardt said.

During halftime, the 4th and 5th grade St. Agnes CYO basketball teams were invited onto the court for a friendly match in memory of Ruchalski — who attended St. Agnes Cathedral School.

Mary’s mother, Carol Ruchalski, created the foundation in 2019 in an effort to help raise money for cancer research. The foundation has helped raise nearly a half-million dollars for research at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. It has also given more than $100,000 to other families of childhood cancer patients facing financial hardships.

“There was so much energy in the gym,” Ruchalski said about the Play 4 Mary event. “We really felt Mary was with us there.”

In total, the charity basketball games helped raise more than $4,000 for the foundation, while the JV and Varsity teams from both schools each walked away with a win.

“If there is anything I learned as I journey through life, it’s to just truly be grateful for everything you have,” Marquardt said. “You never know what could happen. You are here right now. Thank your parents. Thank your coaches. Be a better human. Be like Mary.”