Andy Kimball
Opinion Columnist
For three years the Scott Harris Oliphant Foundation and Webster Groves High School has hosted the Webster Tackles Cancer football game in the Statesmen’s game against Rockwood Summit on Oct. 10.
The Statesman moved their game to Kirkwood High School’s turf field because of rainy and muddy weather and field conditions.
The Scott Oliphant Foundation is a non-profit organization founded upon the death of Scott Harris Oliphant in 2004. Who has helped over 900 families with their battle against cancer by donating money to the families in an endowment fund.
The SHO foundation started the Webster Tackles Cancer event because a board member saw a similar event in Michigan on a news show. Many board members had Webster ties so then they started the event with the high school in 2012.
The event’s main goal is to “help provide for families who fight cancer,” according to co-founder Todd Oliphant
Every year the event features families who are battling cancer, and this year it featured the family of Ken Manwarring, a health and P.E. teacher. Last year the event featured the family of Alaina Bickhaus, who died last month of ewing sarcoma.
The foundation gives $3,000 to families in an endowment fund to help families with their fight against cancer. It also provides scholarships for seniors who have dealt with cancer in their families.
Last year, the money raised from the event doubled to around $6,000 from the $3,000 raised the previous year. The SHO foundation has raised over $500,000 from its events like trivia nights and golf tournaments.
Supporters include Saint Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong, whose mother Keala Wong died of cancer.
Oliphant said, “This year we’ve seen a huge response of people who were interested (in the event).”
