ABoston Red Sox catcherjoined CM’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer team on a Zoom call to discussraising awareness for breast cancer research.
West Roxbury, Mass. –TheSea of Redmadeitsmajor league debuton Saturdayafternoon when nine members of CM’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancerteamjoined Boston Red Soxcatcher Kevin Plawecki and NESN anchor Tom Caron on a Zoom call to discussCM’sannual role in raising awarenessand fundsfor breast cancer research.
Known as “The Sea of Red,” CM’s Making Strides fundraising team received the invitation to join the Zoom call from the American Cancer Society as a way to recognize the school’s 15-year history of raising tens of thousands of dollars for cancer research.
CM Director of Campus Ministry Mr. Michael Dermody and President Dr. Folan joined the Zoom call too, which served as alive recording of Gulf Oil’s remote Making Strides High School Challenge.
“To be invited to this event was a huge honor,” Mr. Dermody said.
“This was a great way to honor all our students who served as some of our top fundraisers from last year’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk.”
Every September, CM’s Peer Ministry program coordinates the fundraising efforts for the Sea of Red’s walk at the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk along the Boston Esplanade.
The student coalitionhas raised at least $10,000each of the past two years and close to $250,000 in its 15-year history—and stillhopes tohit this fundraising goal againthis fall, even after the American Cancer Society decidedtoshift its walk onlinedue to the COVID-19 pandemic.Inplace ofa typical year’s schedule,whereover 300 CM students wake up early, don red shirts, andgather at CM beforeheading to walk,the schoolwillhost a socially distanced eventthis fallon CM’s campus. The event willadhere to the state and federal health and safety guidelines.
“We’ve already began thinking about the programming for our ownMaking Strideswalk,” said Mr. Dermody, CM’s Director of Campus Ministry.
“The Making Strides Walk is a transformative experience for the students at CM. As we begin the new school year, it is imperative that even amid COVID-19 we continue to respond to Jesus' call to love others by leading through service.”
Presented by Gulf Oil and the Boston Red Sox, the Zoom call also gave thenineCMstudents an opportunity toaskPlawecki, six-year major league veteran,questions abouthow theRed Soxhaveadjustedto playing its season amid a pandemicand the importance of advocacy in Plawecki’s life.
One CM student found the experience particularly impactful. For Colin Bligh, a sophomore from Medfield who plays baseball at CM, talking to aprofessional baseball playerabout advocacy gave him a fresh new perspective on the work he performs.
“It wasn’t just talking to aprofessional baseball player,” Colin said.
“It was hearing a professional at the top of his craft care about this kind of issue. That really struck achordfor me. It made me realize how we can all make a difference.”
CM prepares students for the rigors of college and beyond. While here, boys embark on service-learning opportunities, leadership development, and character formation programs inspiring them to become confident, courageous young men motivated to do good in the world.
Catholic Memorial, the Christian Brothers School of Boston, prepares boys for college, manhood and a world full of unknown challenges, ambiguity and complex problems and the importance of relationships.