Rochester College Soccer Game Raises Breast Cancer Awareness

When the Rochester College women’s soccer team plays Concordia University Ann Arbor on Oct. 12, the match will be fun and competitive, but it also will raise funds and awareness for breast cancer.

The team will raise money through ticket sales, T-shirt sales, donations, raffles and a silent auction, which will be donated to the Barbara Ann Karmanos Institute, one of of 40 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. The only hospital in Michigan focusing solely on cancer treatment, Karmanos treats 6,000 new patients annually and conducts more than 700 cancer-specific scientific investigation programs and clinical trials

RC Coach Todd Stank mentioned the possibility of a game supporting breast cancer awareness to his team captains prior to the beginning of soccer season. Once plans for the game were underway, the team discovered that the mother of one teammate, Kaylee Higle, had been diagnosed with breast cancer just weeks earlier.

“From there, our main goal for this game was to make it special for Kaylee and her mother, as well as acknowledge that so many fight this every day,” said Carlee Barackman, senior mass communication major and one of the team captains. “As a team, we wanted to bring awareness to breast cancer, but more importantly use this game to create a sense of community for Kaylee, for anyone at Rochester College who has been through breast cancer, or supported someone through breast cancer.”

Karen Newman, the Detroit Red Wings national anthem singer, will open the game with the national anthem, and at halftime, the RC soccer team will honor breast cancer survivors in attendance. Honorees will also be listed in the game program. The team welcomes any help, donations, or suggestion of people who should be honored during the game.

The game will take place at the Ultimate Sports Arena in Pontiac, Mich., on Oct. 12. Doors will open at 1:30 p.m. and the game begins at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $3 for students and $5 for adults. For more information, email cbarackman@rc.edu prior to the game.