March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, so we wanted to highlight a local non-profit that’s made it their mission to honor two friends, all while helping their community for more than a decade. And this spring, you can help.
Channel 11 was there 11 years ago, as the inaugural “Drop the Puck on Cancer Hockey Tournament” kicked off in Brentwood.
“Brentwood is a tight-knit community...We’re all kind of a big family,” said Taryn Frey, Duttine-Cavataio board member. “So it was just something that we felt we needed to do.”
That mission was to honor two beloved Brentwood High School alumni — Tom Cavataio and Julie Andrulonis-Duttine. Tom passed away from colon cancer and Julie passed away after an 11-year battle with a rare cancer. So, their friends decided to start a deck hockey tournament to raise money for other families battling cancer.
“The community turned around and said, ‘This was such a great thing. Ya know, you should keep it going,’” said Frey.
Now 11 years later, Frey says they’re approaching the $1 million mark, with that money staying in Brentwood and going to families facing a cancer diagnosis.
“We never dreamed a million years it would be quite like this,” said Frey. “But, if you want to see something really magical and amazing, you need to come and see it, because, it is one time when an entire community is there for everybody.”
And Frey says that even if you can’t make the tournament and festivities on May 4, you can always be part of the mission to honor two friends and help a family when they need it most.
“The fundraiser goes all year round because cancer doesn’t just pick a season,” said Frey.
For more information on donating, or if you know a family battling cancer who could use some help, visit dropthepuckoncancer.com.
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