DEARBORN – “Play for the Cure,” a charity group that was started by Dearborn resident Shireen Hachem and her husband Bassel Hachem, has been spreading awareness and raising proceeds for medical charities since 2009, by gathering young women in the community and competing in an annual football tournament.

The game, which will take place on Sunday, July 7 at 6 p.m. at Fordson High School, will pit 18 females, representing the Dearborn team, against 14 females, who will be representing the Dearborn Heights team. A few local males have also gotten involved with the charity group by coaching the teams. Hachem says that the groups have been preparing for the tournament since April, by practicing 3-4 times a week. 

The two teams have been practicing for the tournament on July 7 for the last three months.

This year, the charity group will be raising awareness for Dearborn resident Moe Haidar, 21, who has been on dialysis for the last five years and is in desperate need of a kidney transplant. Community efforts to raise funds and host blood drives in the past have been successful for the Haidar family, but they have yet to yield a match for his blood type, which would be either A, or 0.  While the Haidar family will not be accepting any proceeds from the tournament, “Play for the Cure” hopes to, at least, raise awareness and spread the word about Haidar’s condition.

Proceeds from the game will instead go to the National Kidney Foundation of Detroit. Local businesses have also gotten involved in the event. YogurTown will be selling yogurt at the game and contributing a portion of the proceeds to the Kidney Foundation as well. 

Signature Cafe, I Design and the Dental Office of Abbass Berro in Lincoln Park are sponsors of the event as well. During the game, attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in two raffles. 

Tickets to the game are only $5 and can be purchased from any of the football players involved in the charity group, or on the day of the event, upon entry into the game.  Those who would like to contact the group, in advance, can reach them at playforthecurefirst@yahoo.com.