Thomas Anderson, director Lakewood YMCA, Jim Roach, owner Falconer Printing, Megan Barone, director of development UPMC Chautauqua and Kenneth Warren, Hope’s Windows stand in front of UPMC Chautauqua mammography equipment while giving their donation Submitted photo

Be Strong. These two words have become the foundation for many cancer fighting patients and are especially important to those who organize the Deep Freeze Raquetball tournament.

These words have resonated with the committee members and are an integral part of what the tournament is about and for who. The tournament is held at the Lakewood YMCA each year in February and offers those interested in a game of racquetball to come out and have fun for the day.

Hope’s Windows, Jim Roach at Falconer Printing and Fessenden, Laumer and DeAngelo have been sponsoring this tournament for years, and the committee is grateful for their continuous support. In addition, participants from Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and New York have joined the cause to Be Strong and fight breast cancer in the Chautauqua region to help the men and women stricken by the disease. This year, they were able to give a generous check in the amount of $750, which will help with direct support for women and men’s cancer care.

Next year, the committee is hoping to raise more awareness and funds towards UPMC Chautauqua’s mammography department. It is their goal to assist with providing mammograms for underserved individuals for early detection.

For more information about how you can help fight cancer locally, please contact Megan Barone, director of development, 664-8423, Baronema3@upmc.edu. Or search tax-exempt giving opportunities at wcafoundationjamestown.org. There are several endowed funds that have been created to fight cancer and support those being treated for the disease at UPMC Chautauqua listed on WCA Foundation’s website.