Pirates Look to Help Keep Kassy Strong
March 20, 2019 - National Arena League (NAL)
Massachusetts Pirates News Release
The Massachusetts Pirates professional arena football team in Worcester were saddened to hear that one of its fans, Kassandra Rivera of Worcester was recently diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. The 24 year old and a 2018 graduate of Fitchburg State University with a degree in nursing, faces monumental challenges in the days and months ahead. However, the team was happy to hear of the upcoming "Kassy Strong" three on three basketball fundraising tournament to be held on Saturday, March 30 at the Boys & Girls Club at 65 Tainter Street in Worcester from 12:30 to 4:30 pm.
When Chris Winfield, the Pirates Director of Central Massachusetts Community Relations and the owner of Chrisfit Xperience learned of the event, he urged the Pirates to lend a hand.
"I've known Ms. Rivera for about a year. She came to work out with me. She was full of energy, always optimistic and helpful to everyone. She served as a translator when I ran a fitness and nutrition seminar for daycare providers," Winfield said.
The Pirates are sponsoring one of the teams in the tournament. They also will show their support as players are scheduled to attend the event along with members of the Lady Pirates Dance Team and "Arthur." the teams' mascot. The Pirates will also supply a jersey, ten tickets to a Pirates game and a complementary Gulf gas card to be raffled off to raise additional funds.
The tournament was organized by Katherine Aguilar, Technical Recruiter of the DAVIS Companies in Marlborough, MA along with a donation from her employer.
"It was just an idea I had since March reminds me of basketball and I knew Kassy was near the end of her chemotherapy treatments. Thankfully the impact here at Davis supported my idea. I met Kassy about three years ago and she has always been such a happy, energetic, and positive person. When I found out she had double stage three breast cancer I lost it. I put myself in her shoes. Since I had a childhood friend lose her battle to brain cancer when I was younger, I had flashbacks of the difficult times and stages and realized Kassy wasn't going to let this define her. I needed to be as positive as she was. Throughout this ordeal she has remained a fighter and in some senses an activist by making those around her pay more attention to their health and wellbeing. This is not easy for any woman to go through but her grace and positivity Kassy reminds us she is stronger than her diagnosis," Aguilar said.
Ms. Rivera is scheduled to have a double mastectomy will be late April, but before that happens she will serve as a Pirates honorary captain and toss the coin at the team's home opener vs. the Carolina Cobras on April 13 at the DCU Center at 7:00 pm.
Teams can register for the "Kassy Strong" three on three basketball tournament until Thursday, March 21. Donations can be given through the following go fund me link:
https://www.gofundme.com/kassy-strong?fbclid=IwAR1l3Lk3VU3bXDF65veYZvOiZLvBG7Cek5W8LHdFihWn-v2OtFVqVznYZ-U
The Massachusetts Pirates are members of the National Arena League (NAL). The Pirates play all home games at the DCU Center located at 50 Foster St. Worcester, MA. 01608. Pirate Nation Season Ticket Memberships for the 2019 season will be on sale in September. Pirate Nation Memberships start as low as $200.00. To become a Pirate Nation Season Ticket member or for more information on the Massachusetts Pirates please call (508) 452-MASS (6277), email contact@masspiratesfootball.com or visit www.masspiratesfootball.com. Single game tickets are available online at ticketmaster.com or the DCU Center Box Office. For group outings please call 508-452-MASS (6277). Follow the Pirates on Facebook at Facebook.com/MAPirates on Instagram @mass.pirates, as well as Twitter @mass_pirates.
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- Pirates Look to Help Keep Kassy Strong - Massachusetts Pirates
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