MCHS pink game brings together rival schools

While Morgan City and Berwick met on the volleyball court for Morgan City’s seventh annual “Paint the Pit Pink Game” Monday, the event also served as a means to raise money for cancer patients in the area.
Both Berwick and Morgan City high schools teamed up before hand to raise money for those who are battling cancer.
On Monday, Morgan City High School presented a preliminary check to Debra Acosta, representing Oncologics, for $11,409.
Morgan City assistant volleyball coach Leslie Smith said the Lady Tigers have been selling items at games and asking for sponsorships from the community as well as collecting donations, all in support of fundraising efforts to benefit cancer patients in the community. She said that both schools sold T-shirts and all schools in St. Mary Parish were asked to do a fundraiser to raise money to contribute.
While Monday’s check was a preliminary amount, that number will grow, Smith said, as they haven’t accounted for the gate from Monday’s game as well as monies collected from face painting and vendor sales in the foyer of the gym.
“So we still have money rolling in,” she said.
Morgan City volleyball coach Christy Theriot said she was pleased with the event held Monday.
“Hopefully, we’ll just get better every year. It was a good game to go along with it,” Theriot said of the Lady Tigers’ five-set loss to Berwick. “That doesn’t always happen.”
In addition to a check presentation prior to Monday’s varsity contest, Morgan City sophomore volleyball player Paige Loftin was presented a decorative volleyball as an award for selling the most T-shirts in honor of the event.
Also, both teams had honorary servers. Morgan City was represented by teach Sonia Clements, who said she was diagnosed with breast cancer in August, while Berwick’s representative was Rose Koen, grandmother of Berwick freshman volleyball player Cate Koen. Berwick volleyball coach Heather Blanchard said Rose Koen has been cancer free for 34 years.
While Morgan City and Berwick are rivals, Blanchard said the events surrounding the game showed the two schools can come together for “a great cause” and fundraise.
“There’s a lot of people in both communities that have fought it and are overcoming cancer, and to provide (money for) the treatment, it’s a big thing for us, and we’re very happy to be a part of it and we hope to continue it,” Blanchard said.