During game four of the 2024 Major League Baseball World Series, players and fans alike held up names of friends and family who had suffered from cancer at the end of the fifth inning. Additionally, the American Cancer Society has partnered with the National Football League for 16 years to execute the “Crucial Catch” initiative that aims to acknowledge early signs of cancer. Cancer awareness is clearly an important topic throughout the world of professional sports, and these initiatives can also be visible at the high school level.
At the high school, various sports teams participate in cancer awareness games, some through initiatives such as “Kicks for Cancer” or “Stick it to Cancer,” whereas others are led by Kyle Williams and the other athletic directors. Regardless of the method, these games serve to raise awareness throughout the community and strengthen team bonds.
Chad Hunte has served as the head coach of varsity football for seven years. This is the first year the team has done a cancer awareness game. Hunte said it is important to have these games in order to show the athletes the impact they can have.
“I think it’s huge starting them early in schools. Our job, especially as a high school influence, is to make sure the kids are the future and they can make a huge impact. Our job is to mold them and help them in that way,” Hunte said.
The girls varsity soccer team does not currently have a cancer awareness game, but according to head coach Ben Peters, they have set a goal to incorporate one in upcoming years. Peters said he recognizes the importance of these games, especially on a female team.
“Raising more money for cancer awareness, especially because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, for women’s health and everything, I think it’s huge. It’s super important, especially with a girls team. It would be nice,” Peters said.
Hunte said the games encourage athletes to play their best and recognize a cause that is larger than their team and sport.
“It’s extra motivation to go out there and give it your best and give it your all,” Hunte said. “All the kids know that you’re playing for a bigger cause, and it’s bigger than you and they understand that, and I think that’s a huge part for us.”
Varsity field hockey head coach Emily Hunt is currently in her seventh season with the team. Through the program “Stick it to Cancer,” the team was able to have its first cancer awareness game this year. Hunt said these games are important because they are a good way to emphasize how the disease affects lives.
“Most of us, if not all of us, have been affected by cancer in some way. It’s an important cause, and it’s an easy way to raise awareness and to bring light to all the players who have people who are suffering from cancer or dealing with cancer. I think it’s a great way to build up the program as well, ” Hunt said.
According to Hunt, the field hockey team’s game for “Stick it to Cancer” was another way to bring the team closer together.
“We spend a lot of time together at practices, games, team dinners and bonding, but having a breast cancer awareness game just brought us even closer. We see that a lot of us are dealing with [cancer], ” Hunt said.
The boys varsity soccer team has been participating in cancer awareness games for more than 10 years through the “Kicks for Cancer” initiative, with profits going to Dana Farber and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Head coach Kyle Beaulieu-Jones said these games contribute to a sense of focus and dedication to the team every year.
“I think it being a game for ‘Kicks for Cancer’ makes it even more special and important for them, and probably an experience that they will remember for a long time,” Beaulieu-Jones said. “You can tell on the bus ride how focused they are. There’s a little more focus than other games because of the opponent, but also because of the magnitude of the event.”
The boys varsity soccer players pay tribute to those who have been affected by cancer by wearing custom shirts. According to Beaulieu-Jones, this makes the games even more impactful for the players.
“Each player wears a name on the back of the shirt. They dedicate the game to somebody who has fought and either survived or has lost their life to cancer. So they’re playing the game for themselves, but also that person. So it’s really meaningful,” Beaulieu-Jones said.
Beaulieu-Jones said he is looking to expand the cancer awareness games to more teams in order to generate larger participation.
“I hope to, in the future, incorporate some of our sub-varsity teams, whether we participate in some cancer awareness events here that aren’t parts of ‘Kicks for Cancer’, or we bring our JV freshman team to the event and then have them participate as well,” Beaulieu-Jones said.
Hunt said she is looking for more ways to spread awareness, not just for cancer but for other noteworthy causes as well.
“We need to do more. That is something I’ve realized now that I’ve been coaching for a while, and I’ve coached some really amazing athletes,” Hunt said. “I definitely am looking for field hockey to do more to raise awareness, whether it’s for cancer or other causes around Brookline.”
