Each year, millions of people are diagnosed with some strand of cancer in the United States, leaving them to an arduous battle with their families distraught. Coming together to bring prevention awareness can help people find some common ground.

Kicks for Cancer is a fundraising event across Massachusetts that raises money through athletic events and has given soccer players something deeper to play for.

The event, held at Concord-Carlisle High School, took place annually for the last 18 years. It initially began in 2007 to honor the life of the mother of one of CCHS’s teachers, Lois Wells, who passed away from stage four cancer that year.

With high schools from all over Massachusetts participating, including both the high school’s boys and girls varsity soccer teams, Kicks for Cancer has quickly become a statewide movement. The boys varsity soccer team plays Newton North every year, and although they lost this year, they left triumphant in their fundraising goals.

Individual teams raise money by selling raffle tickets at Patriots or Celtics games and the proceeds then go to cancer research. During the games, players also wear pink jerseys, and some wear the name of a loved one who has been afflicted with cancer on their back. Junior Eamon Boshell said he chose to honor his deceased grandmother this year.

“I got to put my grandmother on my back which gives it a much more personal and impactful connection for me because she’s someone I’ve always looked up to. She passed away from cancer a few years ago, so getting to play for her every year feels awesome,” Boshell said.

Senior Julian Gravereaux chose to have two names placed on the back of his jersey to honor more family members who had cancer. He said that these tributes have positively impacted soccer and his perception of the sport for him.

“I’m really close to my uncle and my grandmother and having them on my jersey is really cool,” Gravereaux said. “It changes how you think of the game; you appreciate your loved ones who you’re close with and you let that translate into how you play soccer.”

Senior Oscar Kulkarni said Kicks for Cancer encourages a sense of unity and gives the team a way to find meaningful connections to one another.

“It puts things into perspective, and it makes us realize there’s more to life than soccer. We all have families that we care about and love. The fact that we have people in our families that have been affected by cancer and family friends that have been affected, it reminds us that life can change very fast,” Kulkarni said.

Boshell said that looking back, he has a different perspective on the fundraiser than he had during his first time participating because of an evolved understanding of why the event is so important.

“I played last year as well and I think it definitely was a different experience,” Boshell said. “Because last year, it was my first year on the team, you’re focused on getting this and that, and you don’t think so much about what’s on the back of your jersey. This year, I definitely took it all into account and I wear that jersey all the time around school. I’m proud to have that. When people ask, I’m very proud to tell them that’s my grandmother. I played for her.”