The third annual Eilyn Strong Basketball Tournament will take place Saturday at the Waterbury Police Activity League in loving memory of a daughter and in honor of Sarcoma Awareness Month.
Eilyn Maldonado began her basketball career at five years old at the Waterbury PAL.
Her mom, Evelyn Ferrer, recalled how her daughter always had a basketball in her hands.
Ferrer said her daughter dreamed big, aspiring to play for the UConn women’s basketball team and having a professional career.
“The court is where she felt the most alive,” Ferrer said.
In September 2021, Maldonado’s basketball career came to a half when she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, the most common cancer that starts in the bones.
After nine months of treatment, Maldonado lost her battle with cancer on July 17, 2022. She was just 16 years old.
Because July marks the anniversary of her daughter’s death and is also Sarcoma Awareness Month, Ferrer decided to coordinate an annual basketball tournament to keep her daughter’s spirit alive.
Ferrer said that, if this type of event were dedicated to someone else, her daughter wouldn’t have hesitated to participate. She said that even while in a hospital bed receiving chemotherapy, Eilyn continuously put others before herself.
The tournament’s proceeds go to Connecticut Children’s in Hartford to support families going through the same grueling process Ferrer did, she said.
“I can’t sit back. I have to do something about it too,” Ferrer said.
The tournament has the largest expected turnout this year, with 19 teams registered to play in the single elimination games.
Ferrer said there are people traveling from all across the state to participate in and watch the tournament.
The event’s colors are yellow and purple — yellow signifying childhood cancer awareness, and purple because it was Eilyn’s favorite color.
This year, the tournament has 20 local and corporate business sponsors such as LA Motors, Eversource Energy and the Waterbury Police Union.
The games begin at 9 a.m. There will be a live DJ, photographers, videographers, and food. Teams can still register for a fee of $350 by sending an email here.