EWA's Second Annual Volley-Bros Tournament

By: Andrew Lane

James Duffield on Team Leukemia practicing for their first match.

The Cancer Awareness Club, which raises money to be donated to various cancer charities, hosted its second annual Volley-Bros tournament on April 2nd, which was a “huge success,” said Leigh Ann Lane, the club advisor. $1,500 was raised. $1000 was collected from the Volley-Bros, and $800 was raised from the Cancer Awareness and Community Service’s Pickleball Tournament hosted in November, which goes towards leukemia-specific research at Reelin’ for Research, a non-profit organization dedicated to benefiting UNC Children’s Hospital and childhood cancer research. The remaining $500 from the Volley-Bros tournament will go towards a skin cancer charity, which is still in the process of being chosen.

The club focuses on “giving back to patients and communities affected by cancer through events, fundraisers, informational meetings, and more,” says Ava Brantley, who is the co-president and founder of the club, along with Emerson Morris. Ava says that she started the club because her twin brother was diagnosed with Leukemia when they were five years old. “Even though he was fortunate enough to win his battle against cancer, some aren’t as fortunate, which is why I started the Cancer Awareness Club,” said Ava, adding that cancer awareness is very important and should be discussed in all schools. It teaches and shows kids and teens how they can help in the community and lend a lending hand. “Everyone is affected by cancer in some way, even if you don’t know it,” said Emerson Morris. Cancer is a serious disease that affects millions of people and families globally every year, and it’s not going to get any better unless you try and make a difference.