Bellmore-Merrick shoots for a breast-cancer cure

Students from across the Bellmores and Merricks recently hit the courts to dribble for a cure when the Bellmore-Merrick Basketball League hosted Buckets for Breast Cancer, a three-on-three basketball tournament at Kennedy High School.

Teams with boys and girls in grades five to 12 took part. All proceeds went to 1 in 9: The Long Island Breast Cancer Coalition.

Kennedy High School senior Allie Keller ran the event for the second straight year. Keller, the girls’ varsity basketball team captain, organized the event with best friend Taylor Kruger, who is now in college. The tournament raised more than $7,400 compared to $4,000 last year.

“Both of our families have been affected by [breast cancer],” Keller said of her decision to start the tournament with Kruger. “The faster we can beat it, the better.”

Keller said she was surprised and grateful to see more than 60 teams participate. Her father, Todd, Mike Kruger and George Vogel were instrumental in spreading the word about the event to the community.

“If you can get people involved, and make people aware, that’s almost priceless,” Keller said.

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