The 10th Annual Christine Garvey Memorial Soccer Tournament --- 2009
by Vivian Tanzer

On March 11 through 13, the nine Kiwanis Clubs of Division 23 hosted the 10th Annual Christine Garvey Memorial Soccer Tournament. Christine Garvey was a dedicated Poquoson "Soccer Mom" who succumbed to breast cancer after a long fight, on December 11, 1999. The nine Kiwanis Clubs and their sponsored High School Key Clubs on the Peninsula, have been organizing this tournament in support of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation for a number of years.

32 High School teams came to the Peninsular from all over Hampton Roads. Referees came from as far away as Richmond, to volunteer their time to this great cause. York County, Poquoson and Newport News Parks and Recreation supported the tournament by allowing the use of their fields.

One examples of how people support this Tournament:

• The Christchurch Girls Varsity team participated for the second year in a row. Christchurch is primarily a Boys Boarding school, but has 36 girl day students. These girls not only gave up their spring break and fielded an 18 person team, but also brought a check in the amount of $548.75. The girls raised the funds through bake sales and other fundraisers. A further $4,260 was donated by family and friends of the Garvey's to honor the 10th anniversary of this event.

Many thanks to the volunteers, the teams and the referees that make this event possible. Over ten years, $107,238 has been raised to benefit The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The 2009 edition alone raised $11,530. We saw great soccer and helped in the fight against breast cancer. You can check out The Christine Garvey Memorial Soccer Tournament web site at www.goforthegoal.homestead.com.

Thank you to all who made this one of the most successful years that the Tournament has had!!!