To further help raise money and awareness for Cardiac Sarcoidosis, the Manners family hosted a 5K race and wiffle ball tournament at the Souderton Rotary Park on September 21.
According to freshman Aidia Manners, the event has been a tribute to her father.
“Dave’s Dash is to help raise money for what heart condition my dad had,” Manners said. “It’s a very rare disease. We like to raise money, so that people don’t have to go through it again.”
Sophomore Camryn Lobel feels the fellowship between the participants was easily achieved.
“Everyone was cheering each other on, and it brought people together,” Lobel said. “If you weren’t running, you were cheering or handing out water. It felt very united.”
Boys varsity soccer coach Frank DeMas said the “camaraderie” was significant in building the support between others.
For sophomore Adriana Cusumano, she was able to identify with other competitors, even those who they were unlikely to interact.
“I was able to connect with other participants,” Cusumano said. “It was a great day bonding with everyone: not just one or two people.”
Manners said the support received was unanticipated, but was immensely valued.
“Being connected with both [Souderton boys and girls soccer] and the coaches was a big part of it [the support],” Manners said. “It honestly meant so much for Coach Frank to come and bond with his team there.”
Lobel felt more than just the community was able to bond.
“Specifically, the soccer team united. It brought a lot of people together,” Lobel said.
According to DeMas, his presence felt essential to fraternity.
“I’ve coached all of the Manner’s kids, and we just wanted to give back to their family,” DeMas said. “It was really nice just for everybody to be together and be there for the Manners.”
According to Lobel, participants should be able to feel pride from giving their support.
“It’s a very rare disease, and it was really unfortunate,” Lobel said. “They [participants] did something good for the community and raised money towards something good, so they should be proud of themselves.”
Manners feels the event would not have been satisfactory without the help from close friends and family.
“Cam and AJ were there till 1 a.m. the night before doing sidewalk chalk and making the baskets,” Manners said. “We wouldn’t have been able to do it without friends and family helping.”
According to Manners, she aspires for the event to get as much publicity and limelight as possible in years to come.
“I wish more people and the community will come, and we can make it bigger, like the Moyer run,” Manners said. “I’ve always wanted it to be like that: more people coming out and more money being raised for the cause.”
The wiffle ball tradition is also a way to honor Manners’ dad, who used to play the game.