There are many athletic teams that participate in fundraising tournaments and donate to local organizations. There is one Long Island team that has taken fundraising and awareness to the next level.
Wreckless Lacrosse, an internationally known lacrosse apparel company, and the teams coach Chris Hein, a top lacrosse player in the mid 80’s with the UNC Tar Heals fund and sponsor the team “Got Checked?”. Wreckless Lacrosse jumped at the chance to help brand the team, as well as donated the uniforms, that transformed “Got Checked?” go from a group of lacrosse players into a team united with more than just one goal in mind. Wreckless Lacrosse got the team players involved in the design of the uniforms, as well. They wanted the teammates to feel as involved as possible in every aspect of the creation of the team, and the uniforms that represent them were just the way to do it.
“Got Checked?” is a travel team comprised of a team of boys’ age 12- 13 years old. Chris Hein coaches the team along with assisting with helping to fund it. Traveling is a key component in their mission. The players are a group of special kids that place first in every game as their message is carried by the cause. They have played and won many tournaments at some of the Nations top Universities such as Duke in North Carolina, Chapel hill, UNC, Harvard University, Princeton, along with many other states and Universities on their travels across the country. The team has plans to travel as far as Denver to compete in future tournaments as well.
By traveling to different states around the U.S. and playing year round, they are able to gain maximum exposure and spread their message around the nation. This team is comprised of passionate young boys and their participation helps the players builds character, compassion, and focus on the overall mission.
With the help of coach Klein, the 13 year olds came up with “Got Checked?” as their team name. The idea came from the love they have for Donna Cioffi, Founder of the organization who started this campaign. All the boys on the team are friends with Donna’s son, and upon seeing the meaning and mission of what her organization stands for, which is to be aware of the organizations positive message to save Mothers and women’s lives around the world. The question mark is the most important part of the team name. This mark represents the question that requires an answer. Its name evokes everyone who reads it to think about when their last mammography was, or if they are due for a check up. The result is then possible early detection, and lives saved. The boys on the team were anxious to help in the best way they knew how…through their passion and talent on the lacrosse field.
The team is responsible in supporting their own travel expenses. During the month of October the plan is to have games as fundraisers to help raise money for Breast Cancer awareness, and to support breast cancer research through Donna Cioffi’s non profit organization; “First Company Pink”. The non-profit organization started the Got Checked? Campaign due to the increase in Breast Cancer diagnoses, but also an increase in survival rates, due to early detection, therefore making “Got Checked?” the team, and the campaign that was started by the non-profit company.
The name “First Company Pink” came from the word “Company”. This was a term used to refer to men and women in the military (companies), who were called up to war. Donna Cioffi came up with the name because as she explained; “In the same way the women fought for their lives in the military, women fight for their lives everyday in the war against cancer. Like the companies of women fighting wars, First Company Pink represents a modern day “company” with the same goal in mind, a goal of survival.” It is the same battle, fought on different fields, but fighting the same fight, the fight for survival.
The goal of the “Got Checked?” campaign is to promote early detection in an effort to save lives. The goal is for “Got Checked?” to be recognized as an all year round campaign by the US Government. The Team “Got Checked?” helps aid in this mission by wearing the logo on their uniform and traveling around the US year round constantly raising awareness of this cause.
In the same way a ribbon of cancer awareness and support is tied, so are the people, company and organization that make “Got Checked?” strong and united. Every aspect tied together, and tightly entwined, all equally important in their mission. Their mission being; To defeat opponents on the field, and more importantly to defeat cancer off the field. They play to defeat the greater cause. For them it’s not only about scoring goals, it’s about saving lives. With every goal they score that’s one more town, city, and state they travel to, and one shot closer to winning their ultimate battle against Breast Cancer, So like the team I ask the same question…Have you Got Checked?
