Rival Caldwell Volleyball Teams Unite To Fight Breast Cancer

It’s a special thing when rivals unite.

On Oct. 1,”rival” volleyball teams from James Caldwell High School (JCHS) in West Caldwell and West Essex High School in North Caldwell, came together to play their scheduled volleyball game and support Breast Cancer Awareness month through the Volley for a Cure program.

According to a release, JCHS senior Abby Sloan organized the team-driven event in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month through the Side-Out Foundation and the Dig Pink Rally, an October event that brings together volleyball players across the nation to raise funds for breast cancer research.

Working with Carol Weilgus, the co-president of the JCHS Spiker’s Club, Sloan rallied the volleyball team to sell “Volley for the Cure” t-shirts, hoping to raise $500. The team exceeded the goal, selling more than 200 shirts. With the other donations raised, the team donated more than $1,300 to the Side-Out Foundation.

Supporting the cause, the West Essex High School team came to the event wearing Dig Pink-inspired t-shirts, helping the JCHS team to raise additional funds and making the day into a true community event.

“You could feel the community spirit as we came together with our rivals to support the fight against breast cancer,” said Sloan. “I’m so proud of how successful the night was, including the number of people who showed up as well as how much everyone contributed to the overall donation.”

Photos courtesy of the Caldwell-West Caldwell School District / Rob Thiemann

Send Caldwell area news tips to eric.kiefer@patch.com