Sara Slechten will play for Team Brunette in the Blondes v Brunettes Powder Puff football game, this weekend at SMU.
5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer’s Disease and here’s a rather fun way to help out …
On Saturday, August 6th, about 150 young women will take the field at SMU’s Westcott Field in the 4th Annual Blondes vs. Brunettes Powder-Puff Football Game (presented by Bud Light). The annual game, which raises money to help find a cure for Alzheimer’s, kicks-off at 7 p.m. Admission to the game and the after party is a $25 donation.
Say organizers, Each player and coach dedicates her/his summer to this cause: “most of the participants have been touched by Alzheimer’s disease in some way, whether it is a family member, friend or neighbor.”
Sara Slechten, a member of my White Rock area-based running group, is on Team Brunette — she has spent her summer practicing in the sweltering heat. She was pretty athletic to begin with, which is why she was recruited.
But, she says, it’s become something much bigger than an athletic competition:
Every Wednesday, at the beginning of practice, you will hear someone say, “This is why I play.” They will go on to talk about their personal experience with Alzheimer’s. So many of the coaches and players on the team have been directly affected by Alzheimer’s through close friends and family members who have suffered from the disease. This is why I play. Nothing pulls at your heartstrings more than hearing the stories from someone who is dealing directly with Alzheimer’s or who has lost someone from this disease. So in turn, we set out to make a difference, no matter how big or small.
She adds that each practice wraps up with a trip to Stan’s Blue Note, where owners sweetly return 10 percent of the proceeds to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Blondes have won the last three years. I’m rooting for Sara and her Team Brunette. (Sure I am blonde, but those who see me all the time know I am in no way committed to the hue.) Here’s a site where you can donate, if you feel like it.
Most importantly, the last three games have raised a combined $415,000 for bi-lingual programming, 24/7 helpline, Safe-Return and research to find a cure. This season, the players and coaches have already raised $151,000 bringing the BvB Dallas fundraising total well past the half-million dollar mark. The goal for this year’s game is to raise $215,000 by game-day.
