On Sept. 19, the Manheim Township girls volleyball team hosted the Hempfield Black Knights in their highly anticipated Spike Out Cancer match. The Blue Streaks fought to defend their undefeated record, but ultimately came up short with a final score of 3-0.

The Spike Out Cancer event has become a cherished tradition for the team. Held annually at one of their home games, players wear pink jerseys, fans flood the bleachers in pink attire, and the arena is adorned with pink decorations, all to promote breast cancer awareness. In the event’s early years, proceeds supported the Sideout Foundation, but since 2023, the focus shifted locally to benefit Manheim Township families.

In 2023, all funds raised were donated to Hands for Helm. Tracy Helm, a devoted mother of two daughters, was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer in Oct. 2022. With her illness being incurable, she can no longer work, leaving the family to navigate overwhelming medical bills. The donations raised through Spike Out Cancer that year provided support to the local family, alleviating some of their burdens. In a heartfelt letter to the team, Helm’s husband, Greg Helm, said the community’s kindness “gave [his family] a glimpse of hope in [their] world that on some days seems so glum.” 

This year’s event offered a silent auction with a variety of themed prize baskets, including art supplies, Starbucks cups and coffee, and movie night essentials. Attendees could purchase baked goods, adding another element to the evening. To encourage school spirit, there was a Chick-fil-A giveaway for the first 50 MTHS students who arrived to show their support.

While the scoreboard may have not gone their way, the team achieved a different kind of victory, raising over $1,000 for a Township family battling cancer. The team will continue collecting funds for this family throughout October.

This week, you can catch the girls volleyball team at Elizabethtown on Tuesday, Cedar Cliff on Thursday, and at home in the MT Arena on Saturday.