NAHANT — In a home run for everyone involved, the Police Department was able to raise $9,000 for breast-cancer research through a charity softball game that was played against the Fire Department.
Both departments came together with Board of Selectmen Chair Josh Antrim and Town Administrator Antonio Barletta, along with nonprofit Susan G. Komen’s Massachusetts Development Manager Melissa MacNeil, Wednesday at Town Hall to present the check to the foundation.
MacNeil thanked the police and fire departments on behalf of the Susan G. Komen charity.
“It just goes to show a small community like Nahant can make a big impact like this,” she said.
In 1980, Nancy G. Brinker, founder of Susan G. Komen, promised her late sister, Susan, that she would end breast cancer forever. In 1982, the promise became the Susan G. Komen organization, the world’s largest nonprofit source of funding for the fight against breast cancer.
According to Susan G. Komen, the Massachusetts branch has funded more breast-cancer research than any other nonprofit while providing real-time help to those facing the disease. Also according to the organization, Massachusetts has invested $1.1 billion collectively into lifesaving breast cancer research since 1982.
Nahant Police Sgt. Matthew Morneau explained how the department has performed a number of charitable initiatives throughout October, from donning pink shirts and patches to even changing the lights in front of the station from blue to pink.
“We raised $9,000 (in total) and, if you think about that, we had a three-week turnaround (and) we had this total the 21st of October,” said Morneau.
The charity softball game was played between the police and fire departments in order to raise funds for breast-cancer awareness and research.
In the inaugural charity game at the Lowlands field, there were food, drinks, T-shirts, and pink patches available for purchase. All of the money raised went directly to breast-cancer research.
“It’s definitely personable, and it’s a horrible disease … and I am absolutely blown away by the community support,” Morneau said.
Antrim thanked both departments for their success, while laughing about funny moments that happened during the game.
“Thank you all so much; it was not just for a great profit, but it was super fun to watch,” said Antrim.
Barletta also thanked both teams, sharing that the day was personally touching, as Wednesday was his mother-in-law’s last day of breast-cancer treatment.
“Thank you (to the police and fire department) for getting this charity together,” said Barletta. “This was all built on the backs of Chief Antrim and Chief (Timothy) Furlong, and both the police and fire departments came together to make it happen.”
Both teams and everyone involved shared their excitement about participating in next year’s game. There was even talk of a spring matchup with a charity of choice from the fire department.
