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On Sunday, January 27, at Hill Gymnasium on the campus of the University of Southern Maine in Gorham, more than 200 adults and youth took to the court to raise money for the Maine Children’s Cancer Program. This year’s event marked the 25th Annual Swish-Out Childhood Cancer Challenge, presented by Town & Country FCU. It’s Maine’s longest, continuous-running, 3-on-3, co-ed, charity basketball tournament.
The 2019 event raised more than $45,000 for children with cancer and their families, an amount that helped the tournament to surpass a fundraising total milestone. With the 2019 total, the Swish-Out surpassed the half a million dollar mark in funds raised, bringing the 25-year total to $525,000. 100% of all funds raised go directly to the cause.
Jon Paradise, Vice President of Public Relations and Communications at Town & Country FCU, founded the tournament back in 1994. He said the growth of the event is a testament to the generosity of the community, and the support of sponsors, participants and volunteers. “When the tournament began, we had seven teams and raised $575. Fast-forward to this year, and we had close to 50 teams and, with this year’s total, surpassed the $500,000 mark in total funds raised since the beginning. It’s really remarkable how people have embraced this event over the years, and an example of what people can do when they come together to make a difference.”