Christian Peterson
reporter.riverbendnews@gmail.com
On Friday, Dec. 27 and Saturday, Dec. 28, the community joined together to honor the memory of Suwannee Middle School Coach Steve Claffey. Sadly, Claffey passed away in 2013 from colon cancer at just 45 years old. In 2015, the Steve Claffey Memorial Foundation founded the annual Memorial Game. Since its inception, the game has raised over $12,000, which has all been donated to families in need throughout the community. These beneficiaries include families that lost children, a family who had injuries due to a car accident, and even a family whose daughter was diagnosed with Campomelic Dysplasia.
This year is unique for a few reasons. It is the ninth official Steve Claffey Memorial Game ever, making the memorial almost a decade old. On top of that, starting this year, $750 raised at the gate and through the GoFundMe page is being given to the new Resiliency Scholarship. The scholarship was created “to support students facing adversity and navigating obstacles while pursuing their educational dreams. Academic perfection is not the only characteristic of a successful college student. Overcoming your failure and continuing to succeed is the ‘true’ definition of learning,” the GoFundMe page reads.
On Friday night, alumni from Suwannee High School made their way to Paul Langford Stadium for a friendly soccer match, starting off the festivities with camaraderie and fellowship, as many old friends and those who share a past came together. But that was only the beginning of the fun. At 9 a.m. on Saturday, a kid’s camp was available, providing an opportunity for future superstars to expand on their skills. Some of the best coaches around the area were there, teaching children every skill they could need in the future, putting them even further on the path to athletic success. Then, the alumni versus alumni game wrapped up the fun at 7 p.m. that night.
Donations are always open for the Steve Claffey Memorial Foundation. To donate, visit www.gofundme.com and type “Steve Claffey Memorial Game and Scholarship” in the search bar. Keep an eye out for the fun and games to make their 10th appearance in 2025.