The Easton (PA) youth wrestling team took on Glendale (PA) youth in a Pin Cancer dual. In the effort to spread awareness during the event, Easton sported their custom Pin Cancer shirts and pink Pin Cancer Socks. But, what really showed a great deal of hard work and dedication to raise donations for Pin Cancer was what Easton did BEFORE the match.

Each wrestler on the team set out to collect sponsors for their match, sponsors that would donate funds based on how the wrestler performed.

“We had each wrestler collect at least 5 sponsors and each sponsor gave money for points and a bonus for a pin.  For example, if one of our wrestlers was winning 14-2, then pinned their opponent, the sponsor gave $5 a point and $20 for the pin.  That sponsor gave $90. Also, some gave a flat donation,” explains Easton’s youth coach Curt Krazer.

“This wasn’t the first event that benefited Pin Cancer that Curt planned. Last season, his team did the same pledge before they traveled to Virginia Beach for the national duals. A very successful weekend trip that raised over $5,000 for PC. Not to mention their team finished top 8 in the tournament,” explains Pin Cancer founder Dan Tramontozzi.

Having success in their last PC fundraiser led them to this dual meet and there are two factors that made this event extra special. First, where it was held. The two teams battled it out at Lehigh University, on the same mat that Lehigh would take on #1 Penn State later that day. The second, each wrestler was going out there not only to win, but to make a difference in the fight against cancer. The two teams ended up raising over $2,000 for Pin Cancer.

“As a coach it is always good to see kids putting effort into community events that help the less fortunate” says Krazer.