Goucher Field Hockey Completes 100-Mile Challenge To Raise Awareness For Breast Cancer And Support Wesley Student-Athlete

BALTIMORE, Md. – Members of the Goucher field hockey team completed its 100-Mile Challenge to support a fellow field hockey player in NCAA Division III and to raise breast cancer awareness for the month of October. The Gophers amassed 700.5 miles during the month. 

Alexis Howerin, a senior on the field hockey team at Wesley College, was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in early 2020 after finding a lump from self-examination. From January to April, Howerin went through numerous doctors' visits, mammograms, and consultations, which led to a double mastectomy. At this time, Howerin has undergone over five months of chemotherapy with more to come. 

"I am extremely proud of the group that decided to do this challenge. Many of them ran over 100 miles for the cause. We were happy to help spread awareness of breast cancer.  Alexis' battle is everyone's battle, and we are stronger together," said Goucher field hockey head coach Stacey Eversley. "Even though the challenge is over the fight against cancer is constant. We will continue to spread the word and be there for Alexis and others anyway we can."

Eversley joined senior Ari Hooper (San Diego, Calif./Poway), juniors Devin Brashear (Escondido, Calif./San Pasqual), Emily Postlethwait (Herndon, Va./Herndon) and Hannah Washburn (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Mendon), and sophomore Amita Chatterjee (Silver Spring, Md./Wheaton) in the challenge. The Goucher field hockey team also chronicled its 100-mile challenge as a team on its Instagram page (@goucherfieldhockey). Goucher joined the Landmark Conference and several field hockey teams across the country in this fight. 

The 100 miles is to support Howerin and also raise awareness for breast cancer during October, which is national Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For more information on Howerin's story: https://spark.adobe.com/page/WzvlfA0tFKWkr/ or visit the Wesley Athletics website.

In addition to raising awareness for breast cancer and all those who have gone through this courageous battle, it is also important to remember to do self-examinations to detect it early. It was a crucial step in Howerin saving her own life. Even for young, healthy athletes such as Howerin, breast cancer can affect women at any age.