Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Fall 2018 | Page 15

"Hoops for Hope" impacts the community off the court
Th ere are a number of traditions
and customs that have contributed
to the development of the Th ornton
Academy girls' basketball program’s
culture over the years. One of the
most infl uential is the “Hoops for
Hope” campaign.
Originally known as “Hoops
for Hayley,” in honor of Hayley
Desjardins '20, the campaign was
launched in 2014 by the team to
support Desjardins and her family.
Desjardins, in 7th grade at the time,
was re-diagnosed with and treated
for Aplastic Anemia, a rare disease
that leads to a defi ciency of all types
of blood cells caused by failure of
bone marrow development. Th e
Th ornton Academy community
immediately came to aide upon
news of her illness.
“It is amazing that a community
can come together for one person,”
Desjardins said. “Knowing that
they had my back and my family’s
back was great.”
Two of Desjardins’ close friends,
Amanda Bogaurdus '20 and Olivia
“Livy” Paradis '20 remained close
by her side through her sickness.
“I have been friends with her since
her fi rst diagnosis when we were
in kindergarten,” said Bogaurdus.
“I was one of the fi rst people she
shared the news with when she was
re-diagnosed. Livy and I would
travel to Boston each weekend to
visit Hayley.”
Th at same year, head basketball
coach Eric Marston's '91 wife
Nancy was diagnosed with
breast cancer and underwent
chemotherapy and numerous
surgeries. Marston shares that
his family received tremendous
support from the TA community.
Following that year, “Hoops for
Hayley” evolved into its current
name, “Hoops for Hope.”
“Th ese events have become
hallmarks of our program and the
community because they involve
the entire girls' basketball program
(grades 3-12) and they are about
so much more than the game of
basketball,” Marston said.
Recognizing the importance
of supporting members of the
TA community resonates with
Th ornton Academy’s pillars of
respect, responsibility, compassion,
and investment. Leading up to the
game, the basketball team sells
t-shirts and sweatshirts with the
pink “Hoops for Hope” logo on it,
reminding the community of the
purpose behind the game.
“Hoops for Hope really ties the
community to basketball. Th is has
become a big event that everyone
looks forward to each year. We
wear pink uniforms and play with
pink basketballs. All teams from
freshman boys to varsity girls play
games that day,” Paradis said.
Proceeds from the campaign have
been donated to the New England
Cancer Specialists in Kennebunk
and Madeline’s Hair Replacement
in Saco, benefi tting many families
in the community.
In closing, Desjardins shares, “If
anyone is ever visiting Maine, I
hope they will come support the
teams. It benefi ts so many people.”
Th e 2017-18
Varsity Girls'
Basketball team
in their pink
Hoops for Hope
15
uniforms.