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.<\/p>\n
Eilyn Maldonado began her basketball career at five years old at the Waterbury PAL. <\/p>\n
Her mom, Evelyn Ferrer, recalled how her daughter always had a basketball in her hands. <\/p>\n
Ferrer said her daughter dreamed big, aspiring to play for the UConn women’s basketball team and having a professional career. <\/p>\n
“The court is where she felt the most alive,” Ferrer said. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
After nine months of treatment, Maldonado lost her battle with cancer on July 17, 2022. She was just 16 years old.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The tournament’s proceeds go to Connecticut Children’s in Hartford to support families going through the same grueling process Ferrer did, she said.<\/p>\n
“I can’t sit back. I have to do something about it too,” Ferrer said. <\/p>\n
The tournament has the largest expected turnout this year, with 19 teams registered to play in the single elimination games. <\/p>\n
Ferrer said there are people traveling from all across the state to participate in and watch the tournament.<\/p>\n
The event’s colors are yellow and purple \u2014 yellow signifying childhood cancer awareness, and purple because it was Eilyn’s favorite color.<\/p>\n
This year, the tournament has 20 local and corporate business sponsors such as LA Motors, Eversource Energy and the Waterbury Police Union. <\/p>\n