The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition is putting on its 34th annual Against The Tide event to spread awareness and raise money for breast cancer prevention at Hopkinton State Park on June 20. 

The multi-sporting fundraising event requires a great deal of planning and responsibility, and three ninth-graders, Lyla Donahue, Brooke Merrill, and Phoebe Snyder, are leading the way as high school chairwomen for this year’s event.

After being recognized for their leadership by the coalition, the freshmen are taking on new leadership roles and responsibilities to ensure the event is a success.

They continue to volunteer their time to media involvement, mobilizing the community, gathering student volunteers, and working to promote and advertise the event.

“Advertising is something that they wanted us to help with. It is really cool that we get to reach out to the teams in our school, student clubs, and try to get more students involved,” Merrill said.

One of the advantages they see is seeing their hard work and contributions pay off in the planning of the event.

“It is really cool that we get to input ideas for the event. All of us have shared things that we thought would benefit the event, and it is really rewarding that we get to be a part of creating a great event and help so many people,” Donahue said.

Still, their inexperience is not lost on them.

“We really do get to step into a leadership role, even though we’re only ninth graders, and I’d love to continue with this,” Snyder said.

The girls will represent the school by wearing Hopkinton High School shirts on the day of the event, which consists of a swim, run, and walk.

While they spread the Hiller spirit, the three will help lead the event from start to finish, setting up and cleaning up, welcoming and directing the crowd, and cheering on participants.

Yet, for the three freshmen, it is more than just an opportunity for them to be leaders in the community. While breast cancer has touched the lives of a relative, for each of them, working towards hopeful change and spreading awareness for a greater cause drives them.

“The reason we were eager to get involved was because it’s a breast cancer event, and as women, that is something we want to support,” Merrill said.