They want to paint French Field pink for a day.
And they aren’t joking about it, either.
The Kentlake and Kentwood High girls soccer teams are coming together at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24 not only for a South Puget Sound League, North Division showdown between two of the area’s top teams, but to also raise awareness of breast cancer.
The match, dubbed “Kicks for the Cure,” is aimed at bringing the two rival schools and teams together to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Staying in line with the theme, Kentwood will sport light-pink jerseys while Kentlake will wear a darker shade of pink. In addition, Kentwood coach Aaron Radford is ready to don a pair of pink socks.
“I don’t mind wearing pink,” Radford said. “I am more concerned about the layers because it’s going to be cold. I’ll have my pink socks on and I’ll have them showing.”
Kentwood and Kentlake already have sold $5 supporter t-shirts for the event and are hoping all fans in attendance will wear their new tops to the game. The two schools already have sold roughly 550 supporter t-shirts. The goal of the event is to raise $2,000, which then will be donated to the Covington MultiCare Mammogram Assistance Fund.
Radford and wife Tara brainstormed the idea during the summer. Rather than do a fundraiser for the team or school, the two felt it was more important to find a way to give back to the community.
“We wanted to change the focus and do a community activity where we can give back,” Radford said.
During the game, several events will be held, including a silent auction, raffle and various halftime competitions. Among the donations for the raffle and silent auction include: One free pizza a month for an entire year (Papa John’s), three days of pet care (Soos Creek Kennels), teeth whitening (James Gang Dental Group), a gift certificate to Grape Adventure, a Mary Kay cosmetics goodie bag and a $50 dry cleaning certificate to Roland’s Cleaners.
In addition, any child under the age of 10 will be invited on to the field at halftime to take a penalty kick. Anyone can purchase a ticket to be in the various halftime contests. Participants who do take part will receive a free foot-long sub meal from the Sub Base and coupon cards for Pizza Hut among other items.
“I think this is a great idea because (breast cancer) effects all of us,” said Kentwood goalkeeper Courtney Johnson. “We’re girls. We have sisters, moms and grandmas.”
And, yes, there will be a soccer game on hand as well. But not just a late-season game with little meaning in the standings. Kentwood (6-0-3, 21 points) entered the week tied for second place with Kentlake (7-3-0, 21 points) in the SPSL North standings. The top three teams from the North earn an automatic berth to the district playoffs while the No. 4 seed has to play a crossover game with the No. 4 seed from the SPSL South for the final district berth.
“It’s a clean rivalry and we’re obviously competitive with one another,” Johnson said. “But we’re obviously coming together for a greater cause.”
And that cause is to …
“Pink-out the stadium,” Johnson said.
