What started out as a month of awareness among the Howard Payne women’s soccer team in 2009, is now a full blown event called Pink Out to reach the whole campus in 2010.
The month of October is the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and at 1:00 p.m. Oct. 26 the HPU women’s soccer team has put together what they are calling the “Kick for the Cure” Pink Out game. They will be playing the University of Dallas in a non-conference game and pink will be everywhere. “We started just doing small things to represent the cause last year, but all the girls got together and made a decision to make a difference and make it bigger and better,” said HPU women’s soccer team Captain, Emily Nutt.
From a light-pink game ball, to custom all pink jerseys, a banner reading “kick for the cure,” and a pink ribbons and balloons, they have gone all out for the game. Last year, the team had started to put pink tape and head bands on as a symbol for the month of October. Certain team members even put the initials of loved ones they knew had been affected by the illness on their tape.
Sophomore, Anna McCay has had first-hand experience with the seriousness of the illness as a freshman in high school. Her grandmother Jean McKay, whom she was close with, moved in with her family once the cancer had started to spread in her body. She would eventually lose her battle with cancer.
“This is bigger than soccer. This game puts it into perspective why we do the things for the people we love,” said McCay. “In those times, you learn a lot of dark lessons, but in the end you feel better because you are fighting to make a difference.”
Women’s Soccer Assistant Coach, Michael Hatcher got involved and used his talents to design the logo that will be on the front of the Pink Out game jerseys. It includes the HPU soccer crest with the pink ribbon of breast cancer awareness wrapped around a cross. Hatcher also works as a graphics designer for Volume Specialties Inc. in Arlington, Texas who made the shirts for the team.
A T-shirt with that same design will become available for a minimum donation of 10 dollars in front of the cafeteria in the Mabee University Center starting Oct. 18 up until the day before the Pink Out on the 25th. T-shirts will also be sold during the game on Oct. 26.
In another attempt to raise money, the entire women’s soccer team has signed three soccer balls with the pink ribbon symbol on it. They are in pursuit of three businesses in the area to buy them for 100 dollars each in support of their cause.
Any money made from the T-shirt sales and signed soccer balls will go directly to the “Susan G. Komen for the Cure” Headquarters in Dallas, Texas. Their goal is to reach 1,000 dollars total to donate to the cause.
“When we started planning this we wanted people to be aware and through this game it allows us to get the attention of our peers,” said Nutt.
To start the game off, Dr. Diana Ellis, the wife of HPU President, Dr. Bill Ellis, will be singing the national anthem. Mrs. Ellis is the former Professor of Voice and Opera at McMurry University.
During halftime of the game, there will also be soccer relays for entertainment that include contestants spinning on a bat, then seeing who can make a goal first. The winner will receive a Chili’s gift certificate. Along with that, Sodexo, and Don Green, the HPU’s food service manager, has agreed to grill burgers and hot dogs for students at the game
The women plan to make the Pink Out game an annual event. They want to continue to raise money for cause that goes to fund research on how we can reduce the number of people affected by this illness.
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the U.S. It’s an illness that makes 250,000 new cases every year, and kills 40,000 every year.
Pictured is Lauren Lewis, Emily Nutt, and Lauren Hatcher
