Falconer JV and varsity girls basketball team members raised over $3,900 this year during this year’s Hoops for Hospice event. Submitted photo

The Falconer girl’s basketball program continued its Hospice winning streak. The Hoops for Hospice event on Feb. 14 raised over $3,900 for Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care bringing the nine-year total to nearly $24,000.

Every year the Falconer community has generously rallied around their JV and varsity girls basketball program and fundraiser. However, this year a very special person inspired the Hoopers.

Dorotha “Kay” Patterson, an avid Falcons booster, passed away on Jan. 19. Kay was also the grandmother of eighth grade JV hooper, Kayla Lynn. When Kay lost her battle to cancer just weeks before the Hoops for Hospice event, she would naturally be the one memorialized by this year’s event.

Kay and her husband Frank moved to Falconer in 1968 and raised their four daughters there. The couple were both very involved in various youth sporting programs during those early years and beyond, coaching teams and helping to build strong programs.

Kay was even known to video tape games so that the tapes could be used as coaching tools for game planning.

“If you played Falconer summer recreational softball or Babe Ruth Girls softball, Kay was one of your coaches,” said Emily Scholeno, varsity girl’s basketball coach. “She gave many years to the Falconer area sports programs and has cheered on nine grandkids in recent years. It was our honor to hold the game in her memory for all of the love and encouragement she has shown all of us throughout her life.”

The event wouldn’t happen without the help of volunteers. That’s when Kay’s four daughters, Tammy Yager, Tanya Destro, Kim Patterson and Billie Lynn stepped up. With their mother’s struggle as the backdrop, they led the effort to round up donations and contributions. All of Kay’s nine grandchildren helped set up and run the event.

“I felt very blessed and humbled to be a part of something to help others during a time that I needed to stay busy,” Tammy Yager said. “The Falconer community is a strong, supportive village and our family has been and is still are feeling the support. Our family is so very thankful to each and every individual for their prayers and support.”