On October 6-7th, 2018, Celebrate the TaTas Fifth Annual Soccer Tournament for Women Champions celebrated its third year in their favorite location, Hine Park Soccer Complex, Winston-Salem. The TaTas Tournament is the brainchild of North Carolina Adult Soccer Association and Charlotte Hadassah, the largest women’s volunteer organization in North America. The focus of the tournament is to compete on and off the field for breast cancer awareness and to raise funds for breast cancer research so that future generations won’t have to worry about this disease.
Every year it is emotional. Every year it is competitive. Every year is better than the last. So, what made this year’s event so incredible?
Let me set the stage — the weather cooperated with sunshine and the perfect amount of cloud coverage. That made our volunteer photographer, Andrew Bowen, very happy. We had very few minor injuries, so that made our volunteer trainers from Novant Health happy. We offered an educational session of breast self-exams, offered by Novant Health, and that made all the women very happy. Our tournament DJ (thank you Split Second Sound), rocked the fields and added that extra bit of energy that made everyone smile. In addition, and perhaps most importantly, the variety of lunch foods arrived on time, so players and referees were well fed. And because we could not do this without the generosity of Winston-Salem eateries, we want to thank them for the joy they brought us: Whole Foods, Lowes Food Stores, Harris Teeter, Krispy Kreme, Walmart, Mozzarella Fellas, Brixx Wood Fired Pizza, PDQ Chicken, Firebirds, and the Famous Toastery. We could not have fed hundreds of players and volunteers without their generosity!
Allow me to circle back to what made this year so special. For the first time in the history of the TaTas Tournament, we had four states participating in the competition …. NC, VA, TN, and GA! And, if that wasn’t enough… the Florida Referee Association flew female referees to Winston-Salem for the sole purpose of officiating the games. Clad in heels, cleats and shining pink lipstick, this fierce group of women dominated the fields and then joined one hundred women and their families for a tournament dinner at the Carolina Ale House. It was moving, inspirational, and heartwarming.
While we are on the topic of great women, here’s another visual. Twenty-five of Queens University women’ s soccer players marched onto the fields and offered assistance with anything and everything. They brought joy to the young children watching their mothers play, and muscle when it was time to break down the goals, tents, and tables. Their timing was perfect!
Celebrate the TaTas is grateful to all the incredible volunteers, the generous sponsors, and the committed players. But at the end of the day, we are humbled by the generosity of spirit we feel year after year from the folks that call Winston-Salem their home. We thank you and can’t wait to return next year.
Join us in raising funds for breast cancer research. It is never too late to make a donation in memory or in honor of a loved, one so please visit celebratethetatas.org.
With gratitude, The TaTas Soccer Committee 2018.
