Izzy Caron enjoys making shots to defeat opponents on the basketball court. This summer she is looking to shoot, score, and help defeat cancer by combing her passion for basketball with a great cause.

The 2024 Newtown High School graduate and former standout on the Nighthawk hardwood is among those participating in A Shot For Life (ASFL), which recruits athletes to be a part of different competitions that raise money for cancer research. For basketball players there are a Connecticut All-Star game and shooting competitions. Along with the competitions the athletes are required to raise at least $1,000 on their own and Caron is looking to help bring in much more.

“My goal is to raise as much money for cancer research as possible. We are required to raise at least $1,000, but I am hoping to get to $3,000 and maybe more,” Caron said. “I am just very grateful and excited for this opportunity and that I can use my love for basketball to help the many people that are affected by cancer. It is a lot bigger than basketball.”

According to its mission statement at ashotforlife.org, ASFL is a sports-based nonprofit organization that funds health and cancer research initiatives. Through sports-based initiatives, community in-person events, and online activities, ASFL meaningfully engages and unites communities, inspires hope and teaches community leadership.

“This is very important to me, because it has affected my family on both sides,” Caron said. “My Grams had Stage 4 lymphoma and my Uncle Mike recently had renal cancer. Both are thankfully doing well, and are the strongest people I know. Both of them have been my biggest supporters. They would never miss watching one of my basketball games. So I want to raise as much money as possible to help people like my Grams and Uncle Mike.”

A Shot For Life began in 2010 when Founder Mike Slonina’s mother was diagnosed with a potentially-malignant brain tumor. Mike wanted to make a difference and he used his love of basketball as a vehicle to both raise money for the MGH Cancer Center and spread awareness for early detection. He began training every day for a 24-hour fundraiser.

On April 9, 2011, he became the first and only person to shoot a basketball for 24 consecutive hours from all over the basketball floor. He battled through various injuries to shoot 73.2% from all over the floor with a majority of shots taken from the mid-range and three-point area, according to the ASFL website.

To be eligible to compete in the A Shot For Life Challenge a player must be 19 or under and they must be in high school or headed to college in the fall. Players are chosen based on their shooting ability demonstrated during the previous high school and AAU seasons. The winner of the A Shot For Life Challenge is named the best shooter in the state.

The A Shot For Life Challenge is a two-hour shooting contest meant to test the ability, endurance, and mental focus of all of the participants. The player with the highest shooting percentage at the end of the two hours is the winner. Caron will participate August 11 at Joel Barlow High School in Redding. The two hours are broken down with 20- and 30-minute blocks of free throw, midrange, and 3-point shooting marathons.

Caron has displayed an ability to score from all parts of the court but made her mark with her long-range shooting prowess this past winter when she tied the NHS record with six 3-pointers in a game. Caron was also recognized as the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Basketball Player of the Week and South-West Conference Player of the Week in mid February following stellar performances on the court.

The former Nighthawk will continue her basketball career at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y. where she will major in health science working toward a career of continuing to help others get back into the game.

“I have always loved math and science so my hope is to become an orthopedic PA, and to mainly help athletes. Whether it is an ACL tear, broken bone, or sprain, I want to be the person that helps them get back on their feet,” she said.

To donate people may visit the ASFL website ashotforlife.org and click on ASFL Basketball CT. Be sure to include the name Izzy Caron in “comments” section. Those who wish to support may also send via Venmo @izzycaron10.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.