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Faith, grit, and giving back: How Charlotte ’27 found purpose beyond the game

Faith, grit, and giving back: How Charlotte ’27 found purpose beyond the game

by Shannon Dufresne
 

For Charlotte Y ’27, basketball has always been more than a game. It was her passion — her place of confidence and connection — the tipoff to a purpose she had yet to discover.

That sense of purpose revealed itself unexpectedly soon after Charlotte’s Sweet 16.

The Ursuline basketball season had just ended, and she was preparing for spring AAU play when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The life-altering news stopped her momentum cold.

Treatments at the hospital replaced practices on the court, and the game she loved took on new meaning — becoming a source of strength and inspiration, rooted in faith.

“Believing that this is all part of God’s plan and keeping a good attitude helped me stay positive,” she said.

During long hours of treatment and recovery, Charlotte leaned on her family — her parents, Shelly and Chris P’25, ’27, and her sister, Anna ’25 — as well as her teammates and friends.

The Yapchanyks are an Ursuline School family and active parishioners of Annunciation–Our Lady of Fatima Church in Crestwood, where both Charlotte and Anna attended Annunciation School before coming to Ursuline.

Deeply rooted in faith and community, the family's connection to service became a steady source of comfort and purpose throughout Charlotte's journey. She found courage in that faith — and a growing conviction that her experience could one day help make a difference for others.

“Believing that this is all part of God’s plan and keeping a good attitude helped me stay positive.”
- Charlotte Y '27

Charlotte’s Clinic for a Cause

Once in remission, Charlotte put that conviction into action, drawing up a game plan to give back to the hospital that guided her through her illness — MSK Kids at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

Wanting to combine her love of basketball with her desire to serve others, she created Charlotte’s Clinic for a Cause — a youth basketball clinic raising funds for pediatric cancer research. When she shared her idea with family friend and Ursuline dad Rich T P’25, he immediately recognized how deeply the Ursuline spirit of Serviam had taken root in her. “Charlotte’s story really moved me,” he said. “I just wanted to do whatever I could to help her make a difference for other kids with cancer.”

“I just wanted to do whatever I could to help her make a difference for other kids with cancer.”
- Rich T P’25, Westchester Raptors

Having watched Charlotte’s journey and knowing her passion for the game, Tauber helped bring her idea to life through his Westchester Raptors program. Together, they turned her vision into an event that united players, families, and friends in a shared purpose.

Charlotte worked with the Annunciation–Our Lady of Fatima Parish to secure gym space for the event. Amid the busy back-to-school season, she designed shirts and wristbands, created promotional materials, and spread the word on social media.

On Columbus Day, a school holiday that gave families a rare break from routines, Yapchanyk saw an opportunity to turn the day into something meaningful.

Outside, a gray drizzle lingered, the kind of damp chill that might have kept most people indoors. But in the gym, the atmosphere couldn’t have been brighter. The freshly polished floor gleamed under the lights as sneakers squeaked and steady dribbling echoed through two lively sessions that stretched into the afternoon. Young athletes worked hard on fundamentals, teamwork, and confidence — exactly the kind of positive energy Charlotte had hoped to inspire.

“It made me so happy to see something we planned come together so perfectly,” Charlotte said. “So many people showed up, donated, and participated.” To date, the clinic has raised more than $6,500 for MSK Kids — and inspired even more people to get involved.

Beyond the Game Plan

For Charlotte, the clinic was about more than basketball. “I told the kids that while we were there to play and have fun, there was a deeper purpose,” she said. “Their donations were going to help MSK’s mission to find better and quicker cures for cancer, like they did with me.”

Humble by nature, she doesn’t see herself as a role model,  but as someone strengthened by community and faith. To those around her, she's a fearless and determined leader filled with gratitude.

Charlotte said her experience taught her more about herself than she ever expected. “It showed me that even when life doesn’t go the way you plan, with the support of family, friends, and coaches, you can get through anything,” she said.

Her faith reminds her that challenges are temporary and that gratitude can light a path forward. Now back to balancing classes and soccer practice, Charlotte finds joy in everyday normalcy. “I’m proud that I didn’t let this battle stop me from getting back into sports and school,” she said.

“I’m proud that I didn’t let this battle stop me from getting back into sports and school.”
- Charlotte Y '27

Living Serviam: Love in action

Charlotte’s strength reflects the best of Ursuline. When she’s not competing on the court or the soccer field, she finds meaningful ways to serve others through the Breast Cancer Awareness Club and Koalas for Christ. For her, Serviam means love in action that reaches far beyond the court.

Her story reminds us that true purpose isn’t found in recognition, but in choosing to serve — and in doing so, helping others find hope.

Charlotte’s clinic may have ended, but her mission continues. To honor Charlotte’s mission, consider supporting MSK Kids at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center HERE. Your donation helps continue the life-changing work that inspired Charlotte’s story — bringing hope to children and families when they need it most.

 

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