Thinking Pink Around the Gridiron

Many players on two local football teams squaring off tonight will be wearing traces of pink when they take the field, as they as well as many of those in attendance attempt to bring attention to a life-threatening condition.

The Hornets are hosting the Raiders in the second-annual “Playing for Pink” football game, a joint effort between the schools to bring awareness to breast cancer and raise money to help fight it. Players will don some pink articles of clothing and sport pink ribbons in addition to their usual team colors, as pink is the awareness color of breast cancer, but players’ clothing is just the beginning.

Before the game, survivors of breast cancer as well as other forms of cancer will be invited to a hospitality tent that will be set up at 6 p.m. There, the survivors will be able to enjoy refreshments before a survivors’ walk scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

“Breast cancer is very important, it’s one of the leading causes of death for women, but there’s so many more people that are affected by [cancer] as well,” said Karmel Tanner, who teaches law and justice classes at Hiram High and serves as the head cheerleading coach. She is also one of the organizers of the “Playing for Pink” festivities.

“Anybody who has been affected by any type of cancer in any way, we want them to be able to be a part of this,” Tanner added.

The evening also will see raffles of donated items such as gift baskets and gift certificates, while cheerleaders will sell T-shirts and various other breast cancer awareness items, such as bracelets and pens.

All proceeds from fundraising will be donated to the Paulding County chapter of the American Cancer Society. Organizers hope to top last year’s estimated haul of $3,000, which went to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Hiram High Principal Jason Freeman said the idea for the focus on breast cancer came from East Paulding High Principal Scott Viness as the two talked during the summer of 2010.

“We knew, this region we were in, that we were going to play each other the next two years … so he said, ‘Let’s do something for breast cancer awareness, have a “pink out” game, we’ll buy coaches’ shirts and stickers for helmets,’” Freeman said. “I think it’s a neat thing, and then the football players, some of them will wear pink socks, and they all have pink stickers to go on the helmets, so they get into it, too.”

But Freeman says the “Playing for Pink” game is also something the student population at large gets behind.

“It’s for a great cause, and I think it helps our kids,” he said. “We talk a lot about giving back to the community and as a school, I feel like a lot of times, we’re always asking for things from the community, if we’re doing fundraisers or we’re asking somebody to donate food, so we try to emphasize with our kids that whole giving back, ‘What can I do to give back to make a difference?’”

Tanner says she believes students have already embraced the cause.

“I think they enjoy it, and I know it’s something that they look forward to doing,” she said. “Last year was the first year that we had done it, and it was a huge success last year, and it’s only gotten bigger this year.

“I think whenever they know that they’re doing something that’s bigger than what they are, then it’s more meaningful for them, especially for those where [breast cancer] has touched their lives,” she added. “They’re wanting to come in and get the shirts and do what they can to support [the cause].”

East Paulding and Hiram kick off at 7:30 p.m., though the “Playing for Pink” festivities will begin at 6 p.m. Tonight’s game also serves as Hiram High’s “” night, with Mayor Jack Paris and Hiram City Council members set to be on hand to be recognized.