FREEPORT – Falcon Pride, a charitable organization established in 2012 to provide financial assistance to Freeport High School alumni who are ill and facing high medical bills, will be holding two fundraisers Aug. 28 to benefit Tom Bennett Sr., Freeport class of ’72, and the family of Becca Thoits Puckett, a 1989 Freeport graduate who died this year at the age of 42 from colon cancer.

“It’s alumni helping alumni and friends helping friends,” said Becky Daniel, one of the founders of Falcon Pride.

The brainchild of Jennifer Meservey Johnson, the Falcon Pride group began via Facebook in 2012 as a way to help Freeport alumna Lisa Waterman Gonneville, who was battling mesothelioma, an often-deadly cancer typically caused by asbestos exposure. To honor Gonneville, a standout field hockey player during her years at Freeport High, Johnson organized a match between the current Freeport High field hockey team and a team of Freeport alumnae.

This year’s charity field hockey match will take place at 4 p.m. at the Freeport High School Field on Holbrook Street. For Falcon Pride member Tara Coffin, the game is a both fun and an effective way to bring attention to the group’s fundraising effort.

“At one point we had 29 ladies practicing on our team,” said Coffin, a 1990 graduate of Freeport High. “It helps with word of mouth to have almost 30 people … bringing awareness to the game.”

Falcon Pride T-shirts and baked goods will be for sale at the game, said Coffin. The game will be followed by a live auction at Buck’s Naked BBQ on Route 1 in Freeport. Items up for bid include an autographed baseball from Boston Red Sox hurler Clay Bucholz, L.L. Bean gift cards, handmade jewelry, a handmade quilt, a gift basket from the Pampered Chef, a membership to Gritty McDuff’s mug club, and a special raffle for a chance to win two tickets to a New England Patriots game in December. Last year’s total was more than $4,000, said Coffin, who hopes to double the amount for this year.

“The response has been great,” said Coffin. “We decided to split the proceeds this year between Tom and Becca so we’re hoping to raise as much money as possible.”

Bennett was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung cancer and has been receiving treatment at Maine Medical Center in Portland.

“Tom’s family has been in Freeport forever. He’s a great guy going through a tough time,” said Daniel.

Both Daniel and Coffin said the support Falcon Pride receives is a testament to the strength of the Freeport community and the spirit of the alumni.

“It’s a good feeling and everyone has fun doing it,” said Coffin.

A CLOSER LOOK

Freeport Falcon Pride will hold two fundraisers on Wednesday, Aug. 28 to benefit Freeport resident Tom Bennett, who is battling cancer, and the family of Becca Thois Puckett, who recently died from colon cancer. The first event will begin at 4 p.m., at the Freeport High School athletic field on Holbrook Street with the Freeport High School Alumni squaring off against the Freeport High School field hockey team.

A silent auction will follow at 6 p.m. at Buck’s Naked BBQ, 568 Route 1, Freeport. For more information contact Becky Daniel at 865-0645.

The field hockey team members of Falcon Pride, a group of Freeport High School alumni participating in two fundraisers include, from left, back row: Jason Daniel, Tara Coffin, Ellen Stoddard, Kelly Garlick, Inday Montajo, Angela Ingerson, Theresa Johnson, Karen Hogan, Lisa Daniel, Andrea Olsen and Becki Belmore. Front: Bailey Coffin, Michelle Doherty, Stephanie Washburn, Jennifer Johnson, Carolyn Sweet, Holly Harris, Julie Foster and Becky Lizotte.Freeport resident Tom Bennett is battling an aggressive form of lung cancer. Falcon Pride, a group of Freeport High School alumni, will hold two fundraisers on Aug. 28 to raise money for Bennett and for the family of the late Becca Thois Puckett, a 1989 graduate of Freeport High School.