READY TO PLAY, HELP CDI — Soccer players involved in the 10th-annual Together We Care soccer benefit on Oct. 8 at Harding Stadium to aid the Cancer Dietary Initiative are Catholic Central girls, Megan Brown, Jillian Bucci, Theresa Kerker, Maria Meyer, Elen Rhode and Ellie Rice; Indian Creek girls, Maddie Ballato, Rebecca Blackburn, Haylee Booher, Amelia Ferroni, Abby Starkey and Lucy Zadanski; Indian Creek boys, Paulo Amis, Trevor Francis, Elijah Llewellyn, Foster Maiorano, Jacob Smearman and D’Angelo Suriano; Harrison Central boys, Jace Madzia, Taylor Cope, Kaden Jurosko and Cameron Dulkoski; Steubenville Big Red girls, Raegan Hayes, Jules King, Sydney Matyas, Hailey Neeley Melia Newburn, Sophia Riley, Jaleyss Scales, Adelaide Shaw, Pagie Toothman and Marleny Torres; and Steubenville Big Red boys, J.P. Walsh and Anthony Venditti. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — It’s eight teams and five schools but one goal when soccer players compete next weekend as part of an effort to help area cancer patients in need.

The 10th-annual Together We Care soccer benefit on Oct. 8 will involve the boys and girls’ soccer teams from Catholic Central, Indian Creek and Steubenville high schools and the Edison girls’ soccer team and Harrison boys’ soccer team coming together to play four games at Harding Stadium.

Gates open at 9 a.m. at Harding Stadium with the game schedule as follows:

– 10 a.m. — Central vs. Edison girls;

– Noon — Indian Creek vs. Harrison boys;

– 2 p.m. — Big Red vs. Catholic Central boys; and

– 4 p.m. — Big Red vs. Indian Creek girls.

During the last nine years, the Together We Care event has raised more than $185,000 to help people with cancer, a spokesperson said, noting area businesses have played a vital role in making this event a success. All prizes and sponsorships have been donated to support this event.

There will be multiple giveaways, including a 31-prize calendar lottery, vacation getaway to Sanibel Island, Fla., a Chinese auction, school spirit basket drawings and more.

All proceeds from the Together We Care event will be donated to the Cancer Dietary Initiative, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the primary purpose of providing nutritional needs to cancer patients and their immediate families while they undergo the hardships of cancer diagnosis and treatment, an event spokesperson explained.

Donations are the main source of income for the CDI, and food is purchased locally at the minimum possible cost through the generosity of local food suppliers in the Tri-State Area. CDI operates out of First Westminster Church, located at 235 N. Fourth St., Steubenville. Every month food is distributed to more than 100 patients in the local area.

Sponsorship levels include World Cup, $500; European Championship, $250 to $499; Champion League, $100 to $249; and Premier League, up to $99.

All sponsors are recognized on the Facebook page and electronic scoreboard.

Checks should be made payable to Cancer Dietary with “Together We Care” in the memo line and can be mailed to: CDI c/o Chris Hyland, 86532 North Bay Road, Scio, OH 43988.

A group of parent volunteers form the fundraising committee to host this event annually and include Gloria Llewellyn, chair, Indian Creek; Chris Hyland of CDI; Chris Orris, volunteer and employee of Valley Hospice; Elena Crisante, Cathy Zorne and Teresa Hicks, Big Red; Kimberly Warren, Edison; Laura Cope, Harrison; Martha Duff, Beth Metcalf and Sherri Descalzo, Catholic Central; and Marla Medley and Paula Ferroni, Indian Creek.

The event is reason to revisit the history of CDI and the history of Together We Care.

“Medical Oncologist Dr. M Pervaiz Rahman at Tony Teramana Cancer Center noticed an ongoing issue with patients losing weight and seeming more malnourished than he expected with their cancer,” the spokesperson explained.

“He started asking questions and was shocked at the responses. Although hesitant, these patients admitted that they were choosing between eating, paying household bills or paying medical bills. The added costs associated with their diagnosis cause people who are normally independent to no longer be able to stay above water.

“Dr. Rahman was inspired by a food collection project his son Haris was involved in at school, and together they decided to attempt a six-month pilot food pantry program to meet these unfulfilled needs of his patients.

Recruiting assistance with the volunteers, he started the program modestly with 18 patients in 2013.

Today it services approximately 115 patients.

“The CDI functions solely on the generosity of donations, fundraisers and grants from local individuals, businesses, volunteers and communities,” the spokesperson added.

The history of the soccer event goes back to a time when local schools were hosting individual soccer cancer benefits.

In 2013, Coach Jonathan Hoover was the Indian Creek boy’s soccer coach and approached other local soccer coaches to propose a combined soccer cancer benefit to raise larger amounts of money to fight cancer. With the help of the local soccer community and soccer parents — Melanie DiCarlo of Big Red, Mitzi Probert of Indian Creek, Amanda Harris of Edison, and Mrs. Bodo of Catholic Central — the soccer cancer event was launched at Harding Stadium.

For updates on the event, visit the Facebook page — Together We Care.

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