MILTON, Mass. – On Saturday, September 16, the Women's Lacrosse Team participated in the eighth annual 5k Run/Walk for Ovarian Cancer.  This was the team's sixth year volunteering for this event. The squad departed the Curry campus at 5:45 a.m. and headed to Centerville's Craigville Beach located on Cape Cod. This very special event called "Girlygirl P.A.R.T.S" raises awareness for ovarian cancer.

There were over 1,200 people this year which included the founders, committee, members of Dana Farber, sponsors from all over, race participants and volunteers including the women's lacrosse team. They raised over $165,000, the highest in the history of the event.

Prior to the race the team helped with set up inside the various tents and with registration. During the race, the team had various jobs to do including directing the runners and walkers, cheering them on along the race trail (some while hula hooping) and finish line, handing out waters and logging the runners times. The most rewarding part of that day for our team was watching them interact with the women who have been battling this devastating disease, those recently diagnosed and the survivors. It meant a lot to those women to have them there.

The Volunteer Coordinator, Mary Beth McLaughlin, was quoted saying, "Thank you to all of the members of the Curry College Lacrosse team who drove down from Curry very early Saturday morning.  You brought an energy level and team spirit that put smiles on so many people. The committee always looks forward to seeing you all.  We couldn't do it without you."

Sophomore Abby Dubel said about the event, "It's so much more than just a 5k. This is a day dedicated to helping fund early detection of ovarian cancer. This is a cancer that only targets women, so doing this as a women's lacrosse team is very powerful. It raises awareness on something that could impact one of us in our lives, it being that 1/74 women get it. It was an emotional day for all involved and I am excited to go back next year and help again."

"This is our team's sixth year volunteering at Girlygirl P.A.R.T.S. and it was so great to see how much it has grown over the years.  Over $165, 000 was raised this year which surpassed the goal that was made.  I am so happy my team can be a part of it and I am so proud of their efforts during the day.  This year's team not only worked hard before, during and after the race to have it all set up and go smoothly but they did it with great energy and spirit.  It's a very emotional day for a lot of people there so to see that my players are able to put smiles on others faces and genuinely want to make an impact is something we all will never forget.  My team left there with a sense of gratitude, pride in the service they gave and an understanding that there is a lot more that goes along with being a member of this team than what happens on the field," said Head Coach Caitlin Roberts.

Girlygirl P.A.R.T.S stands for: Pre-Screening, Awareness, Required, To, Silence…ovarian cancer.