Every October, Blue Devils vs. Cancer and Duke Rec & P.E. invite Duke undergraduates and graduate students to participate in the 4v4 soccer tournament - Score for the Cure! This annual competition raises funds for the Duke Cancer Institute. Originally a flag football competition, Score for the Cure (S4TC) turned into a soccer tournament starting in 2017. Students and Duke volunteers join in on the action to raise money for breast cancer research, as October is Breast Cancer Awareness month!
This year, the charity tournament was hosted on October 28th, 2023 - where six teams dueled for the championship of S4TC 2023! Players entered with a $15 registration fee in which all proceeds contribute to the Duke Cancer Institute. This tournament was also supported by Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken, who provided lunch for the players and volunteers. Before revealing the winning team and grand charity total for the Duke Cancer Institute, let’s hear what some of the players had to say!
Rohan Talathi, a graduate student and the captain of Southhall United team, which clinched the 3rd place spot, shared his reflection on the event, expressing his delightful surprise of how well his team had performed. “The event was really great! We even got to play three games in a row, which we did not expect, we thought it would be a knockout at first”. More importantly, Rohan added that “playing for a cause” gave the games an extra layer of meaning. He also expressed his gratitude for the efficient tournament management, acknowledging the dedication from the organizers to have created an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
Wesley Cunningham, a player on the winning team also shared his thoughts on the event, echoing the sentiment that the event was a great deal of fun and a memorable experience. “This event was a lot of fun and a good time!”. He also appreciated the great opportunity to support the fight against cancer, “I’m glad to have got the chance to raise some money for the cause”. While the entire event was filled with memorable moments, for Wesley, the highlight of the tournament was undoubtedly the championship game, where the competition was at its peak.
In the tournament’s thrilling final match, Sons of Pitches faced off against Elliot’s B team, resulting in a tense game tied at 2-2 after halftime. Both teams continued to battle it out, leaving it all on the field. In the last few moments of the match, Sons of Pitches started to pull away, and secured the victory with a final score of 5-2. An exciting conclusion to a day filled with exhilarating matches and shared goals, both on and off the field.
With the conclusion of Sons of Pitches winning the tournament, we now know the grand charity total for the Duke Cancer Institute! The tournament raised a total of $405 for breast cancer research at the Duke Cancer Institute! Blue Devils vs. Cancer will contribute these funds to the Duke Cancer Institute as a result of a successful tournament!
There is no other soccer tournament quite like it! Congratulations to the players, and thank you to everyone who contributed to this charity tournament!
*Behind the event is Blue Devils vs. Cancer. Founded in 2011, it is a student-led service club that raises awareness and funds for cancer research. Find out more about the club by following their Instagram: bluedevilsvscancer
Rohan Talathi, a graduate student and the captain of Southhall United team, which clinched the 3rd place spot, shared his reflection on the event, expressing his delightful surprise of how well his team had performed. “The event was really great! We even got to play three games in a row, which we did not expect, we thought it would be a knockout at first”. More importantly, Rohan added that, “Playing for a cause” gave the games an extra layer of meaning. He also expressed his gratitude for the efficient tournament management, acknowledging the dedication from the organizers to have created an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
Wesley Cunningham, a player on the winning team also shared his thoughts on the event, echoing the sentiment that the event was a great deal of fun and a memorable experience. “This event was a lot of fun and a good time!”. He also appreciated the great opportunity to support the fight against cancer, “I’m glad to have got the chance to raise some money for the cause”. While the entire event was filled with memorable moments, for Wesley, the highlight of the tournament was undoubtedly the championship game, where the competition was at its peak.
In the tournament’s thrilling final match, Sons of Pitches faced off against Elliot’s B team, resulting in a tense game tied at 2-2 after halftime. Both teams continued to battle it out, leaving it all on the field. In the last few moments of the match, Sons of Pitches started to pull away, and secured the victory with a final score of 5-2. An exciting conclusion to a day filled with exhilarating matches and shared goals, both on and off the field.
Image Credit: Duke Recreation & Physical Education