CRESSKILL, N.J.—On Sept. 29, the Cresskill Cougars United Soccer Club kicked off National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October, with a kickoff of their own.
Over 110 young Cresskill soccer players—seven girls’ teams and seven boys’ teams—gathered at the town’s Cook Field on the corner of Third Street and Madison Avenue for a spectacular event to raise money for breast cancer research. Many of them wore socks adorned with the pink cancer awareness logo.
The event called “Cougars Soccer Kicks Breast Cancer” was organized by Nancy Chin, one of the administrators of the Cresskill Cougars United Soccer Club.
“This year, we are taking an initiative to raise breast cancer awareness in the month of October, and all soccer players will be wearing breast cancer socks in all games,” Chin said. “The Alma Bank of Tenafly donated the socks so each player could have a pair regardless of their donation (the suggested donation was $10 a pair).”
Beginning mid-September, each team, headed by a volunteer coach or team manager, began collecting donations by selling the socks. The Cresskill High School soccer teams were also involved and held a separate fundraiser for wearing socks that was headed by Mary Klein, a member of the Cresskill Board of Education.
Chin explained, “This idea of wearing breast cancer awareness socks at soccer games to show support has been a ‘wish’ of mine for many years after seeing other teams doing it. It came to fruition this year because more and more friends of mine have been impacted by breast cancer in the recent years, and I am now on the board of our town travel soccer club, Cresskill Cougars United Soccer Club, a non-profit 501(c)3 club, to put this together. Early detection saves lives!”
The school’s coaches and team managers collected donations until Oct. 14, and the funds raised will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Chin was to write a check for over $1,000 from the Cresskill Cougars United Soccer Club to the foundation.
In a league of their own
The Sept. 29 Kick Breast Cancer event was truly a tribute to the charitable spirit of the Cougars United Soccer Club. At the entrance to the field, parents sold cancer awareness T-shirts and the Girls U11 team members showed their joyful spirit by jumping and waving pink pompoms.
Sixth-grader Janice said, “This is an important event because a lot of people are suffering from breast cancer and we want to show them that we care.”
Another sixth-grader, Raima, agreed.
“We really want to help,” she said.
Maite Bosch, a mother of one of the girls, said, “One of the goals of this cancer awareness drive event is to encourage every woman to get a screening, because that will save lives.”
On the far side of the field there was a huge banner that read “Cougars Soccer Kicks Breast Cancer.” At the other end of the field, the teams gathered for a photo and heard heartfelt remarks by officials from the school and athletic league coaches.
Superintendent of Cresskill Schools Mike Burke cut short his family trip to attend.
“It’s important for our students to be passionate about this cause,” he said.
David Spelbrink, president of the Cougars United Soccer Club, a volunteer coach for the U11 girls’ team and assistant coach of the U9 girls’ team, was a keynote speaker. His team played a game versus Northern Valley (coached by John Massaro, Cresskill High School principal), on the same field at 11:45 a.m. that morning. The team has won all of its games this season.
Spelbrink reiterated Burke’s commitment to the Kick Breast Cancer event.
“We want to teach the children charity and compassion and to make people aware of getting cancer screening early. Wearing these socks will send that message.”
He went on to announce that “The club will also make a donation in the memory of Jenny Roth, wife of Erik Roth, the principal of the Edward H. Bryan School in Cresskill,” Spelbrink said. “There are many survivors amongst us here today. Some are out and others are quiet. It is important that we also honor them today.”
He then gave great praise to Chin for her hard work in organizing the Cougars Travel Soccer Club Kick Breast Cancer initiative.
“She’s a dear friend of mine and without her, today would not be possible. Without her, our club would not be possible! She has the biggest heart of anyone in Cresskill,” he said.
After the speeches, the entire group of kids ran the length of the field to the “Cougars Soccer Kicks Breast Cancer” banner, where they gleefully kicked it apart.
The day ended with soccer skills and juggling and a lot of smiling youngsters excited about the money that was raised for a good cause.
For more about the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, visit www.bcrf.org.