Photos: Girls' Basketball Teams 'Play for a Cure', Raise Funds to Help Local Woman Battling Cancer

SOUTHOLD, NY- Hearts were full at Southold High School today as the community turned out to help one of their own.

The Greenport/Southold varsity and junior varsity girls basketball teams participated in the yearly “Play for a Cure” basketball games Saturday, with proceeds to benefit to Danielle Harrison-Meraz, a Greenport High School alumni, to help with mounting medical expenses and limited insurance. (Check out the photos below).

Since she was diagnosed with cancer of the brain, spleen and lungs last month, Southold’s Danielle Harrison-Meraz has seen an outpouring of devotion from all corners.

“I am so grateful and humbled,” she told Patch.

Volunteers sold T-shirts and #Team Danielle bracelets to raise funds, and manned tables filled with baked goods, even purple cupcakes, to mark Harrison-Meraz’ favorite color.

“With radiation under her belt and aggressive chemotherapy in the next week or so, the girls hope that any proceeds will help her with any medical expenses she may incur,” a Facebook post about the event read.

The JV game took place at 10 a.m. and Varsity, at noon, with the Southampton/Greenport Clippers facing off against Pierson/Bridgehampton Lady Whalers.

The week has been painful for the student athletes, mourning the sudden and heartbreaking passing of beloved Southold Coach Phil Reed.

Harrison-Meraz is graeful for the love of family, friends and the community, as scores have rallied to Harrison-Meraz’s side, organizing a fundraiser, a GoFundMe page and creating a bank account to hellp. She is unable to work or drive due to the fear of seizures.

They’ve created bracelets to raise funds, adorned with the words #Team Danielle, which are a flurry of bright messages of love on Facebook and social media, as well as T-shirts, sporting Harrison-Meraz’s signature words of hope: “Be grateful. Always.”

The fundraiser for Harrison-Meraz will take place on Sunday, Feb. 21, from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Greenport Firehouse on Third Street, featuring music, a 50/50 and a Chinese auction, with a suggested donation of $25.

A nonprofit has been set up and registered with the county to help Harrison-Meraz. Checks can be made payable to “Friends of Danielle Harrison-Meraz” and mailed to Bridgehampton National Bank, PO Box 1567, Southold, NY 11971.

Finally, a new event has been planned by Kait’s Angels, an organization that performs acts of kindness in memory of Kaitlyn Doorhy, 20, of Mattituck who lost her life at 20 while away at college. The Kait’s Angels Yogurt Bowl, with ice cream, frozen yogurt and a DJ, will be held on February 6 from 3 to 10 p.m. at Yogurt Expressions in Mattituck. The event features a free will donation, with all proceeds to benefit Harrison-Meraz. Yogurt Expressions is located at 13175 Main Road in Mattituck.

Patch photo courtesy of Danielle Harrison-Meraz.