According to MS Body and Soul executive director Jennifer Thomas, members of the girls’ tennis team participated in the 11th annual event hosted in the IDS center Sept. 17.

Thomas said her brother started the event in response to her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in 2005. The event raises money for the disease while bringing people together.

“He decided to do what my family does best, which is community, getting together and giving back,” Thomas said.

Thomas said her daughter, freshman Ella Thomas, connected the tennis team to the event.

“My hope was that it would be a bonding event for the team and it would be a way for young people to give back and have fun doing it,” Jennifer Thomas said.

Senior captain Natalie Lorentz said the team contributed to the event by selling raffle tickets and organizing games.

“I enjoyed the event because we were able to listen to Ms. Thomas’s speech and be around people who are so inspiring,” Lorentz said.

Freshman Racquel Fhima said she felt proud to take part in the event and give back to the community with her team.

“By doing the event as a team we showed solidarity, and we all banded together to help this cause,” Fhima said. “It was important to show these attributes, as we wanted to support each other and this cause.”

According to Thomas, the team’s volunteering helped the event raised more money than past years.

“I loved seeing them and knowing that they are such a high class group of kids,” Thomas said. “I really think the tennis team played a big role in why we raised the most money.”

The team returns to the court at 4:15 p.m. Sept. 21 at Robbinsdale Cooper High School.