Charity hoops tourney scores another $45K for children's cancer program

Courtesy/Town & Country Federal Credit Union Pat Moody, left, of Maine Land Consultants, and Ryan Jacobsen, right, of Tyler Hard Drives, are two of the players participating in the Swish-Out Childhood Cancer basketball tournament.

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By Renee Cordes

More than 200 adults and youths took to the basketball court Sunday in Gorham to raise nearly $45,000 for the Maine Children’s Cancer Program, putting the total amount raised since 1994 to nearly $570,000.

The 26th Annual Swish-Out Childhood Cancer Challenge, presented by Scarborough-based Town & Country Federal Credit Union, at the campus of the University of Southern Maine in Gorham, saw close to 50 teams compete for a good cause.

All proceeds go directly to the Maine Children's Cancer Program.

"This is such a great example of how the community comes together to make a difference," said tournament founder Jon Paradise, vice president of public relations and communications at Town & Country FCU. "When the tournament began, we had seven teams and raised $575. Now in our 26th year, we welcomed close to 50 teams and we have now raised nearly $570,000 throughout its history.”

He also noted that the Swish-Out is the state's longest, continuous-running, 3-on-3, co-ed, charity basketball tournament in Maine. All games were played on quarter courts.

This event happens because of people," he said. "We are honored that so many people come back year after year to hit the court to make a difference, and thankful for the generous sponsors who lend their names to support this cause.”

Paradise told Mainebiz that he didn't play in the tournament himself because of too much going adding that that "though competitive, the games were focused on fun and collegial."