Teams take fundraiser to the court

Early last year, Rio Mesa High School’s boys’ basketball coach Chris Ruffinelli sat down for a $3,000 haircut and left the barber’s chair with a bald head and a pretty good nick from the clippers.

Oddly enough, the basketball coach hopes to get the same treatment this year—minus the nick.

Ruffinelli has promised to let his varsity basketball players shave his head again if they help raise $5,000 during the second annual “Ball It Up for Cancer.” The citywide event brings together boys’ and girls’ basketball programs from Rio Mesa and Camarillo high schools to raise money for cancer research and prevention.

Last year the two schools donated more than $4,000 to the Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation.

The money was used for local residents who were unable to afford prostate and breast cancer screenings at any of Community Memorial Healthcare System’s nine centers for family health throughout Ventura County.

“The reason we started this last year was that I felt that it was important that the kids need to give back to their community and also understand that there are a lot more important things in life than a basketball game,” Ruffinelli said.

Ruffinelli will again partner with Mike Smith, Camarillo High School’s athletic director, to make the fundraiser possible.

As they did last year, the two crosstown rivals will use their upcoming basketball games as fundraisers.

The girls will play at Camarillo High on Tues., Feb. 9. The junior varsity teams will take the floor at 5:30 p.m. The varsity teams will follow at 7 p.m.

On Wed., Feb. 10, the boys will square off at Rio Mesa. The freshman/sophomore teams play at 4 p.m. The junior varsity squads will start at 5:30 p.m., while the varsity teams will tip off at 7 p.m.

Ruffinelli said that in addition to collecting donations from people attending the games on Tuesday and Wednesday there will be a silent auction and a raffle during the boys’ games at Rio Mesa.

Raffle and silent auction items will include signed sports memorabilia from Camarillo’s top professional athletes.

A signed tennis racket and Olympic jersey have been donated by Rio Mesa alumni Mike and Bob Bryan, the No. 1 men’s tennis doubles team in the world.

Professional football player Scott Fujita, a linebacker for the New Orleans Saints and a Rio Mesa grad, has donated signed gloves and a picture to be auctioned off. Fujita will play in the Super Bowl on Sunday.

Major League Baseball player Dmitri Young, another former Rio Mesa Spartan, will also donate signed sports gear.

Winners of the silent auction will be announced at the end of the boys’ varsity game, Ruffinelli said.

Hats, sweat shirts and T-shirts with the fundraiser’s logo will be on sale at the basketball games.

The event is co-sponsored by Center for Family Health in Camarillo.

Donations are being accepted at both high school campuses. Checks should be made payable to Spartans for a Cure or Scorpions for a Cure.

To participate or to make a donation to “Ball It Up for Cancer,” call Ruffinelli at (805) 278-5500.