Down & Dirty for CF Charity Softball Game

Clicks for a Cause was proud to be a part of the Down & Dirty for CF Charity Softball Game this past Mother's Day. The event was hosted by 16 year old, Shalynn Schell, as part of her 2015 C.A.S.H. Senior Project and a fundraiser for her Great Strides Cystic Fibrosis Walk Team ~ Heaven's Miracle. 

We want to introduce you to Shalynn, a 16 year old student at C.A.S.H. and niece of Clicks for a Cause Founder, Wendy Hacker. She logged over 60 hours of community service while assisting at various Clicks for a Cause Fundraising Event in 2013 and 2014. While she was assisting us at a Clicks for a Cause Photo Booth Fundraiser in the fall of 2013 as part of her community service for her C.A.S.H. Senior Project we began tossing around some ideas for the other parts of her Senior Project the idea hit us. As you know we started our company based on the motto "use what you know" and Shalynn knows Softball. Shalynn and I brainstormed on how to put a twist on the game to make it a CF fundraiser and we had recently saw a photo from a "Trash the Dress" Football Flag Game. Since, she has played softball for years, her parents are softball coaches and her closet was full of old dresses, it was the perfect fit.  

Shalynn started to make a list of potential player, what activities would happen at the event and questions to ask her guidance counselor to ensure the event would meet the criteria. As the event started to take shape there was a great response from Shalynn's friends, classmates and teachers many of whom either participated or purchased custom made T-shirts. The T-shirt logo was created by combining a simple softball graphic, an awareness ribbon (purple the Cystic Fibrosis Awareness color) and some texture to represent a dress.To raise money, Shalynn, had a player registration with t-shirt fee, concession stand, bake sale, small game day admission fee and she sold $1 votes for Queen or King of the Game. 

With each player registration participants received a spot on one of three teams and a custom Down & Dirty for CF T-shirt. Shalynn worked with her Grandparents, Vic & Gail Schell, owners of Schell's Auto Truck and Body donated $100 to buy food for the concession stand. As a long time softball player in the community, Shalynn was able to get The CVGSA -Conneaut Valley Girls Softball Association to $50 to purchase any additional concession stand items. Shalynn sent a request to the Coca Cola Company through there website and received 3 cases of  powerade and 2 cases of pop for the concession stand. She also worked with her family and friends to get lots of yummy goodies for a bake sale. There was a $5 admission fee with a discount for moms since the event took place on mother's day. Clicks for a Cause provided each player with a mini photo shoot in their game attire and printed a 4x6 onsite to be voted on for Queen or King of the Game. We also took action photos of the game and provided an opportunity for each player to purchase $1 digital downloads through our online gallery. 

When we asked Shalynn about the event she said, "My favorite part was just seeing everyone who came to play having a good time." We asked what tips she had for getting donations and she said, "Make sure you get the donations early so you don't have to worry about not getting them in time" To finish her Senior project she will put together a powerpoint presentation, collage of photos, provide a t-shirt sample, informational brochures and literature from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and give an oral presentation to a select panel of teachers.

This event raised $400 for Shalynn and her Great Strides Cystic Fibrosis Walk Team ~ Heaven's Miracle. 

A Mother's Day Event- Lori and 2 of her daughters
came out to support the event.
From Shalynn's Facebook Event Page, "I understand tomorrow is mothers day, but bring your mom out and watch some softball and hangout and raise money to help find the cure for Cystic Fibrosis and have a good time. For those of you who don't know CF is a life threatening disease that gets over 1,000 new cases each year. It is thick sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and obstructs the pancreas, and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food. So come on out and help add tomorrows for those who have Cystic Fibrosis."




Grayson was the youngest team member at age 2 1/2. He lost his Aunt April before he was born to CF and is a carrier himself of the Delta F508 Cystic Fibrosis gene mutation. 

Donavan, won a gift basket for receiving the most votes. 
                   







                 

From Shalynn, "I want to thank everyone that came and helped out with the game today. A big thanks to all the players for coming out and playing in the heat! haha Thank you wendy for coming up with the idea of this and helping me:) thank you to my family for putting up with me and helping me. thanks to everyone who made something for the bake sale and or the baskets. Thanks to my mom for keeping score lorriane for doing concession. grandma for doing admission. daddy for being the ump. Today wouldn't have been possible if I didn't have any of you♥"
The Heaven's Miracle Cystic Fibrosis Team was formed in 2010 in Memory of April Lynn Hacker, who lost her battle with CF just a week shy of her 25th birthday. Shalynn has been a member of the walk team for 4 years and counting.

 If you are interested in learning more about Clicks for a Cause Fundraising, Volunteer & Photographer Opportunities visit us at www.clicks4acause.com 

From the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation website: www.cff.org
About CF
What Is Cystic Fibrosis? 
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-threatening genetic disease that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. An estimated 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide) have CF.
Quick Facts about CF
In the United States:
  • About 1,000 new cases of CF are diagnosed each year.
  • More than 75 percent of people with CF are
    diagnosed by age 2.
  • Nearly half of the CF population is age 18 or older.
In people with CF, a defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that:
  • Clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections.
  • Obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down food and absorb vital nutrients.
In the 1950s, few children with CF lived to attend elementary school. Since then, tremendous progress in understanding and treating CF has led to dramatic improvements in the length and quality of life for those with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s and beyond.
Thank you for reading!
Clicks for a Cause 

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