By Olivia Baratta ’16 | Staff Writer

Grosse Pointe South’s Junior Varsity and Varsity Field Hockey Teams have decided to “Stick it To Cancer.”

On Monday, Oct. 14, South’s top two field hockey teams will be playing a Breast Cancer Awareness game supporting the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. The JV game will begin at 6 p.m., and the Varsity game begins at 7 p.m..

This event will be called, “Stick It to Cancer,” and is the team’s first time hosting a Breast Cancer Awareness Game, although they have supported this cause in other ways in the past.

“My grandma had breast cancer and survived, but I will be honoring my best friend’s mom, Mrs. Sklarski, who passed away in June of 2011,” said Junior Varsity Captain Sophie Draper.

Varsity Field Hockey Coach Amelia Tompkins is excited to be supporting this cause, and says her team will be supporting causes like this even after their season is complete.

“My mom is a survivor of breast cancer, and Coach Amine’s mother passed away due to cancer,” said Junior Varsity Coach John Fowler. “We are all recognizing friends and family members on our shirts that day.”

Coach Tompkins has also lost many loved ones to cancer, and many girls on the teams know someone who is struggling or has struggled with cancer, she said. Everyone on both teams will be honoring a loved one by putting the loved ones name on a special pink t-shirt in which they will be playing the game.

“My sidu (grandma), who I am playing in honor of, had breast cancer before I was born,” said Varsity Field Hockey Captain Megan Fleming ’14. “Cancer has affected a lot of members of my family, and it’s really close to the heart. I’m happy that I get to play in honor of my sidu and that she’s still alive.”

Not only will the teams be earning money for this cause from the game, but all three teams will be supporting the cause in other ways. The teams had bake sales, are holding a game-time raffle and will be selling ribbons, bracelets and shirts on Friday and Monday.

Though the freshmen do not have their own game, they will be at both games working the game-time raffle, selling baked goods and handing out breast cancer awareness literature. As a whole, the teams have already earned almost $800 from the three bake sales.

Tickets to both games will be $5 each, and anyone planning on attending this event is encouraged to wear pink to support this cause.