Greenport, Southold Girls' Basketball Teams 'Play for a Cure' to Help Southold Woman Battling Cancer

SOUTHOLD, NY- When a member of the North Fork community is facing their greatest challenge, friends and loved ones come together in a show of solidarity, love and support.

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 today.

And now, on Saturday, January 30, the Greenport/Southold varsity and junior varsity girls basketball teams will donate the proceeds of their yearly “Play for a Cure” basketball game to Harrison-Meraz, a Greenport High School alumni, to help with mounting medical expenses and limited insurance.

“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 games are scheduled for Saturday, with JJV at 10 a.m. and Varsity at noon at Southold High School.

Also featured will be a bake sale, as well as #Team Danielle bracelets and T-shirts for purchase.

“This awful disease, cancer, has touched every single one of us in some horrible way. Please show yoursupport for these young athletes and Danielle by attending,” the post read.

Ever filled with optimism and positivity, Harrison-Meraz saw a lifetime dream come true when she was able to meet Donny Osmond recently. She thanked family and friends for making it happen.

“I have the best family and friends. And that was definitely one of my top five nights ever,” she said.

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