A YUM Publication
No. 5 Vol. 11
NOVEMBER 2023
Fundraiser Game Held for Local Softball Player Battling Leukemia By Tina Pappas community has rallied behind a local girl who has always shown her "love of the game" to friends and family. Sofia Stokes, who is a seventh grade student at Washington Park School in Totowa, plays for the Lady Hornets Travel Softball team. The 12-year-old recently discovered that she has leukemia back in July. According to Jamie Macaluso, one of the Lady Hornets’ softball coaches, Sofia’s friends and teammates from all three Passaic Valley towns came together to show their support and held two softball fundraising games at the Little Falls Sports & Recreation Complex, located at 160 Paterson Avenue on Oct. 15, in the hopes of helping her family with her mounting medical bills. “This is a fundraiser for ‘Sofie,’” said Jamie. “We are doing two games with a mix of softball 12U and 14U Lady Hornets, including Totowa Recreation Department teams, comprised of girls from Little Falls, Totowa and Woodland Park. We’re all here to support and raise money for her journey right now.” Jamie, whose daughter also plays with Sophia on the 12U Lady Hornets team, said that her number 10 uniform was highlighted on the scoreboard during the fundraising
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games held on Oct. 15. “This is why we have Sofie’s uniform number 10 on the scoreboard,” she explained, adding that the donation was 10 dollars for each girl participating in the softball games and 5 dollars for anyone attending the games. “The Shack also is donating a portion of their proceeds today.” Gabi Cordero, whose daughter Liliana went to school with Sofia and also plays on the 12U Lady Hornets team, said Sofia has been a leader on her team and in her community. Gabi coordinated the fundraiser. “A lot of the girls look up to her,” she said. “ She loves this game and it’s nice that she was able to come by today and see her friends and teammates supporting her with these games. It’s great that this fundraiser is being held because medical expenses can add up very quickly.” Sofia’s mother, Christina Stokes, was also in attendance and commented during the first game held. “It’s amazing,” she said. “We’re so grateful to have such a phenomenal community supporting us, and especially Sofia.” Anyone wishing to donate can go to venmo:g-cordero.
Photo credit: The Township of Little Falls Pictured is Sofia Stokes, a seventh grade student at Washington Park School in Totowa, who plays for the Lady Hornets Travel Softball team.