When the Lynbrook girls’ varsity lacrosse team set out to raise money to combat cancer, the players’ parents and coaches had no idea they would become the top fundraisers in the country for their cause.
“We were shocked that we were beating large colleges and some of the best programs in the country,” coach Vinny Tetro said. “The girls really took pride that we were No. 1 and wanted to stay that way, and they kept their efforts really going.”
Having noticed that most teams in the school play a fundraiser game, the girls’ lacrosse players came up with an idea to have one of their own. They discovered an Instagram sensation known as the “Game Hair Havoc Challenge,” which encouraged athletes to style their hair on game day to raise awareness for the HEADstrong Foundation, a group that offers financial, residential and emotional support to families affected by cancer.
Each member of the lacrosse team — comprised of 26 girls — created their own donation page for the foundation and set a fundraising goal of $100 per player. They easily surpassed it, beginning their collection in early March and generating more than $7,000 ahead of their fundraising game against Hewlett on April 4.
“I just think it was great to see that the girls saw an opportunity to really help out and to give back,” said Mary Beth Stalter, whose daughter, Kayleigh, 16, is a junior on the team. “To get all the teammates involved was great. They did it as a team.”