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Sports

Volunteers Batter Up to Fight Breast Cancer

A Memorial Day weekend charity softball tournament in Aliso Viejo raised money for a non-profit organization, run by a Lake Forest woman, that assists those fighting breast cancer.

Aliso Viejo Girls Softball hosted the 'Batting for the Cure' Softball Tournament Memorial Day weekend to raise funds for Breast Cancer Solutions, a non-profit organization that helps women in Southern California who are fighting breast cancer.

Lake Forest resident Heather Gilbert, founding director and board chairwoman of Breast Cancer Solutions, said she was pleased with the tournament, which organizers hope to make an annual event.

"This year, Breast Cancer Solutions will assist about 200 women battling breast cancer," said Gilbert, a two-time survivor of breast cancer.

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Money raised at the tournament—as well as support from other events and the Susan G. Komen for the Cure in the Inland Empire, San Diego and Orange County—will help the nonprofit financially support women with breast cancer who need assistance, Gilbert said.

Girls on teams from all over Southern California participated in the event, which began Friday and concluded Sunday afternoon at Aliso Viejo Community Park. The 10U and 14U teams from Aliso Viejo each won the tournament championships in their divisions.

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Yesenia and Chad Hogancamp, an Aliso Viejo Girls Softball coach, created and organized the tournament.

"We thought we would merge our love of softball with a good cause," Yesenia Hogancamp said. "We started back in January. That's when we presented the idea to Louis [Mazzarini]."

Louis Mazzarini, president of Aliso Viejo Girls Softball, said the organization "rallied around" the cause.

"We wanted to do something good for others," Mazzarini said. "We hope to raise at least $5,000 from this tournament for Breast Cancer Solutions."

According to literature from BCS, the nonprofit's mission is "to ensure access to and compliance with life-saving breast cancer treatment by providing assistance for safe housing and adequate nutrition, as well as other life essentials, for patients who are unable to work while undergoing those treatments."

Chad Hogancamp's mother, Linda Hogancamp, is a two-time survivor of breast cancer. She offered advice to those battling the disease. 

"Stay positive," Linda Hogancamp said. "Just have good faith and good thoughts along the way."

For more information about Breast Cancer Solutions, call (866) 960-9222 or visit the organization's website. The nonprofit is located at 3843 S. Bristol St., Santa Ana.

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