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Play It for Life is an important part of Oakwood’s school life each year. It was started by Lexie Ellis in memory of her mother and donates the money generated from sports games tickets, merchandise, luminaries, and bake sales to to the Service League of Greenville Inpatient Hospice. The friendly sports competitions function as a way to raise money, raise awareness, and also allow students to use their skills on the court or field to give back to the community affected by cancer.
Soccer: This year Oakwood’s teams went all out, donning their bright pink jerseys, while other members of the community showed their support by wearing bright pink Play It For Life t-shirts. The soccer team played Christ Covenant in the jerseys, paid for by the Mudireddy family. The match was a landslide victory, with Oakwood winning 8-0, but unlike every other match, this one was about the cause and the participation as much as the score.
Here is some commentary about the other fall sports:
Volleyball: Alana Mitchell, Varsity Volleyball Member, noted this about the volleyball games: “Play It For Life was a very fun and exciting event, and it was great to play for something bigger than ourselves”
Tennis: While soccer played on the pitch, tennis played equally hard nearby on the courts.
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Cross Country ran hard in their race against their smaller Oakwood peers. Varsity runner James Miller said, “For Play It For Life this year, we put on duck run for kids of all ages. It was super fun for them and for everyone who ran with them!” Cross Country did an amazing job involving and bonding with the younger half of the school, capturing the unity that this event strives for.
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The Play It For Life competitions mean a lot to the students, faculty, and families at the participating schools because they bring the community together for a worthy cause. The night concludes with the luminary walk, dedicated to all those affected by cancer. This event has raised over $125,000 and continues to be a vital part of Oakwood’s year.
