The fourth “Soar For A Cure” girls’ benefit basketball game Feb. 11 at New Martinsville School raised more than $1,600 for the Lee Ann Foundation, named in memory of the late Lee Ann Schambach, a teacher at New Martinsville School. The NMS 7-8 grade girls’ team played its River High School counterpart, with New Martinsville winning going away. The game, which has become a tradition to aid local victims of breast cancer, was initiated by NMS Coach Brian Croasmun and his family as a way of honoring Schambach, a co-worker and friend. The first “Soar for A Cure” game was played in 2010 and included both RHS and the Short Line School.

The Lee Ann Foundation was created by her family to provide support and fundraising for those affected by cancer in Marshall, Ohio, Wetzel, Tyler, and Belmont counties. Schambach succumbed in 2009 from breast cancer.

This year’s game featured t-shirt sales, a bake sale, raffles, a hoop shoot, and sales of memorial bricks for the NMS Memorial Brick Garden in front of the K-1 Building.

During the past four years, NMS has donated more than $6,000 to the foundation.

“Soar For A Cure” is the result of work and donations by many people. Sponsors extend a special thanks to Fay Pritchard, Justin Cochran, and Coach Chad West for continuing the tradition of this basketball game.

Thanks also is extended to the NMS, RHS, and Short Line teams, coaching staffs, and communities; Brian, Sherry, and Davianne Croasmun; Mary Beth Crawford; April Stolfer and R.L Jones; Linda and Scott Hill; Steve and Jeanie Deem; the White Family; the Watkins and Schambach families; Mary Kovalcik; Susie Grilli; Lil and John Pierce; Barb Blain; Pat Bland; Butch Wilson; Angelle Copeland; Debbie West; Allison Fluharty; Sue and Sally Longwell; Brenda Brookover and the NMS Pink Boutique; Cheryl Shank; Connie Frye; Terry Steele; Meg Ensinger; Janie Robinson; and Helen and Joe Parish.