Schaumburg, Conant happy to team up with St. Baldrick

Schaumburg and Conant are putting the intense battles others are fighting before the challenges their girls water polo teams are facing.

The Saxons and Cougars, in a combined effort, sold baked good and T-shirts this week as part of the St. Baldrick's Foundation event which is scheduled to take place at Schaumburg High School on Friday.

The polo teams played one another on Monday, with Conant earning a 10-8 victory.

The real winners, though, are those who will benefit from the grand total of $720.75 raised by the programs of Schaumburg coach Beth Donatucci and Conant coach Justin Bickus in the ongoing St. Baldrick's mission to end childhood cancer.

Two players from Schaumburg - Ingrid Hay and Rosemary Mascarenhas - have also opted to make a more personal sacrifice.

Both will shave their heads and donate their hair to children fighting cancer.

"In one week, these two programs were able to come together and do something greater than themselves," Donatucci said. "I can speak on behalf of myself and (coach Bickus) that we are so incredibly proud and privileged to have these young ladies commit to giving back by devoting their time and energy to fighting this disease."