SCARBOROUGH, Mass.–The 28th Annual C-U Swish-Out Childhood Cancer Challenge here organized and presented by Town & Country Credit Union raisedmore than $50,000 collected for the Maine Children’s Cancer Program.
Plans had initially called for the basketball-related Challenge to return to an in-person format, but it was held virtually for the second straight year due to uncertainty and a rise in COVID cases in the spring, the credit union said. Traditionally, the event is a three-on-three, in-person competition.
“Proving that the show must go on, the Tournament used its 2021 template to hold a virtual’ 3-on-3, month-long free throw competition instead,” the credit union explained.
“Up until a month or so before the event, which was scheduled for March, we were planning on having the tournament back in-person,” said Jon Paradise, SVP-communications, marketing and community outreach at Town & Country, and the founder of the Tournament in a previous position with the Maine Credit Union League.
Plans to Get Back on Court
“However, after conferring with the Maine Children’s Cancer Program, it was determined that, since a number of patients and former patients participate or attend, we wanted to be cautious about holding large gatherings, and decided it was best to be virtual again. Thankfully, sponsors and participants were very understanding and were more than willing to support the ‘virtual’ event again.”
Paradise, who added the event still raised the fourth highest fundraising total in the 28-year history, said barring any unforeseen circumstances, “we will be back in person next year, but to raise more than $50,000 in a virtual setting, is something we are really humbled by.”
The Winning Teams
Collectively, more than 30 teams competed in the 2022 competition. The top three teams in the adult division were: Riley’s Basketball of Gray, The Niners of Portland, and Town & Country FCU’s For Three of Scarborough. The Top Team in the three Junior Divisions were: High School - Town & Country’s Nothing But Net of Portland; Middle School – Southern Maine Hoopsters of Saco; and 5/6th Grade – JAA of Falmouth and Gorham. All of the winners received gift cards and all participants received t-shirts.
More Than $600K Raised
Founded in 1994, the Swish-Out Childhood Cancer Challenge has now raised more than $650,000 for children with cancer and their families at the Maine Children’s Cancer Program.
The $480-million Town & Country FCU now has more than 40,000 members.