Cranberry CUP is a testament to good will
Another Cranberry CUP event has come and gone, but the lingering effects will continue to be felt by yet another family beset by tragedy.
The Cranberry CUP — CUP being an acronym for Community Uniting People — has raised more than $2 million over the last 25 years for local families experiencing extreme financial and medical hardships.
It started as a modest softball tournament, but has since exploded to include dozens of teams, and has added corn hole tournaments, live entertainment and a scholarship program.
Two families will benefit from this year’s activities, according to Eagle reporting from the weekend.
This year’s “inspirational family” is the Tuite family, which has faced setbacks after their patriarch, Rick, was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in January.
Rick has been unable to work since December due to his illness, and has suffered from seizures for eight years. He is currently undergoing radiation and chemotherapy treatment.
Another beneficiary from this year’s Cranberry CUP is the family of Jackson “Jax” Ramirez, 9, of Zelienople, who has a rare, life-threatening genetic immune system disorder called IPEX. The family is still in search of a potentially lifesaving bone marrow donation for Jax.
Cranberry CUP board member Robin Schaffer said before the CUP had stepped into his life, Rick “had given up already,” Schaffer told the crowd. “But from the moment he met us he wanted to live and fight this disease. That’s the power of all of you who are here today and who participate throughout the weekend in some way. You give people hope and help ease their troubles, so that they can concentrate on healing and being with their families.”
And it’s not just about raising money. It’s about community coming together for someone in need, while raising money. Anybody can throw money in a donation box. This is about rallying behind the inspirational families and providing hope and support, as well as assisting finances.
It’s not unusual to see around Butler County a community rallying together to help a neighbor in need. But the annual, ongoing and hyper-focused efforts by the Cranberry organization to help a family are beyond measure. We cannot applaud loud enough.
— RJ
