NMMI Sports Press
Three years ago, students at the New Mexico Military Institute began participating in the ‘Cadets for a Cure’ campaign, a month-long series of events designed to increase awareness of all types of cancer, and raise funds for the Chaves County Cancer Fund, a local non-profit organization that financially supports community members and their families who are going through cancer treatment.
All across the nation, the month of October is known for Breast Cancer Awareness month. When starting the fundraiser, the cadets wanted to do more than just wear pink around campus.
“So three years ago we thought we would do something to benefit a cancer organization,” NMMI Associate Athletic Director Randy Montoya said, explaining that almost every student, faculty, or staff member on campus has been affected by the often deadly disease.
Montoya oversees the cadets who plan and run the activities, and he stated this year’s fundraising effort was the biggest since the program began, with a total of almost $5,000.
That season-surpassing sum came despite dropping certain ventures used in previous years, such as a dunk tank and pie-in-the-face toss – which Colt football coach Montoya said was probably a good thing.
“The night that we would have held those event was pretty cold, so it was good that we didn’t do those,” he laughed.
The loss of perhaps two of the cadet-favorite activities (what RAT doesn’t want to dunk their TLA or put a nice whip-cream pie into the eye of their History professor who gave that surprise pop-quiz) was more than made up for, however, by two new endeavors.
A 50-50 raffle organized by Colt volleyball coach Stephanie Schooley and her volleyball squad “did very well,” said Montoya, while the biggest jump this year was the Troop War, where troops competed via donations for group pride – and a free rev. “Our troop war raise quite a lot of money this year, so we’re tickled to get that,” said Montoya.
“We’ll wrap it all up before the semester is out, and try to help some people during the holidays,” the coach said, talking about a planned check presentation to the CCCF which will likely occur during halftime at one of the NMMI home basketball games before the Christmas break between semesters.
Montoya also had a long list of thanks yous: for the staff, faculty, and the cadets; as well as Sean Schooley for helping get a great price of this year’s Cadets for a Cure t-shirts; and coach Susan Alvis and assistant Bronco basketball coach Will Joyce for their help in organizing and planning.
He also wanted to give special thanks to two businesses for their charitable donations: TranPro Freight Forwarding and Trans-Logis Transporte Y Logistica Internacional.
“Great to have everyone be a part of this,” Montoya said. “It’s a good testament on how the whole campus and community came together to help out this cause.”