Osseo-Maple Grove Athletic Association

This past weekend 16 U OMGAA Fast Pitch Softball team hosted the annual Summer in the Grove Fast Pitch tournament with teams from all over MN.  Taylor Bratten, a 7^th grader on the 12 U Crimson team playing in the tournament came up with an idea to help promote breast cancer awareness during the tournament.  A teammate on the 14 U Crimson team, Justine Simon, whose Mother, JoAnn Simon, was recently diagnosed with Stage II Breast Cancer.   

Taylor wanted to help and show her support so she came up with the idea to have all her teammates wear pink uniforms with the breast cancer ribbon. She wasn’t sure if her teammates would be willing to give up their uniforms for a day and buy new pink ones.  Her teammates all supported the idea plus the 14U Crimson team also turned in their uniforms for the new pink ones.  Taylor was overwhelmed by the number of orders of shirts she received for her teammates, coaches and parents including the Dad’s. 

Taylor wanted to surprise JoAnn Simon with her idea.  She waited until the shirts were ordered and in and then she went to her house to tell her of her idea.  When she told JoAnn, She cried.  She couldn’t believe a young girl like Taylor would care enough to want to promote the awareness of breast cancer. 

JoAnn Simon, her husband Jeff, and three girls, Justine, Jill, and Josie were overwhelmed when they showed up at the field on the day of the tournament and saw pink shirts every where.  They were amazed at the amount of people wearing the shirts that they didn’t even know.  It was truly a special moment.  JoAnn Simon stated:  “1 in 8 women in their life time will be diagnosed with Breast Cancer.  It is important that girls and women of all ages are aware of the seriousness of this diseases and the importance of getting regular exams.  What Taylor did was very special and really helped in promoting breast cancer awareness. Her and others support means the world to my family and I.” 

Taylor’s team, the 12U Crimson, finished 3^rd in the tournament.  The 14U Crimson team finished 1^st.   In JoAnn Simon’s heart, all the girls finished in 1st place for their willingness to help “strike” out breast cancer.