The 22nd year of the Swing For Life softball tournament was held at the end of April. This year's tournament raised $18,000 for breast cancer research at the Huntsman Cancer Center.

Eleven high schools participated this year: Rowland Hall, North Summit, San Juan, Taylorsville, East, Skyline, Providence Hall, Judge Memorial, Murray High School, Bingham and Altamont. Each school’s softball team played in three games each day on the last weekend of April.

Swing For Life started in 2002 by Rowland Hall. “I was diagnosed with stage II invasive carcinoma, with a small lump and I had surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. While I was going through that, my kids and the athletic director rallied and started a hit-a-thon and raised money,” Kathy Howa, the softball coach of Rowland Hall softball, said.

“It turned out to be really successful and they raised $12,000 the first year. Then a couple other teams joined us. We thought it was so much fun that we decided to do another one and ended up with like $53,000 and then $74,000,” Howa said. “It was a lot of work to get all of the equipment for the hitting competition and it evolved into a big softball tournament and became very popular.” 

“North Summit has been with us every single year we have done it, they come from Coalville and it’s a small area and they are the team that raised the most money,” Howa said.

The individual student that raised the most was Rowland Hall’s Jane Borst.

“Huntsman comes out and speaks to the teams. They get to see the goodness of what the money they helped raise goes to and some of the kids have ended up with internships at Huntsman. So it turns into an educational event,” Howa said.

“It is community service and the kids play for a cure. They have huge hearts. The event shows so much kindness and empathy and knowing they might be helping their parents, grandparents, mothers or even themselves one day not come down with this ugly disease.

“When they know they are doing something that is better than themselves, they play for a different reason, they play with a different outlook. They win when they step onto the field because of all of the donations they gathered and the work they did behind the scenes. We all become one team at the end of this,” Howa said.

“Swing for Life, became a foundation in 2008 incorporated by the state of Utah, it is a 501(c) (3). We have teams from all over the United States send us money to give to Huntsman,” added Howa. 

Howa explained that Swing For Life has really grown where college teams along with the Utah Jazz have raised money for the foundation. 

“We had a very fun tournament this year,” Howa added. “These kids do a fantastic job and a big thanks to all of the coaches that allowed the kids to step up to do this. They have such a good time and the kids want to come back every year.” λ