September was the month dedicated to Pediatric Cancer Awareness, and many can relate to Pediatric Cancer on a personal level. Throughout the month of September, the Hawthorne High School Girls Soccer teams, both JV and Varsity, showed off gold shoelaces on their cleats to support Kayla Miller, a junior at Hawthorne High School, who survived Pediatric Cancer.

September was such an important time to reflect on Pediatric Cancer Awareness because cancer devastates so many people’s lives. In the United States alone, “Over 15,780 children under the age of 21 are diagnosed with cancer every year,” according to the Childhood Cancer Awareness Organization. Cancer has touched Kayla Miller on a personal level. As a young child, Kayla Miller survived a very rare cancer, Neuroblastoma, and underwent surgery to remove the cancer that was located her adrenal gland. Today, she is seen as a shining star to so many people both in the classroom and on the soccer field. “Miller is an incredibly strong girl, both on and off the field, and I know to never mess with her,” Coach Gus Schell,the Varsity Soccer Head Coach, expressed.

Kayla Miller and her parents organized and  donated money for both of JV and Varsity soccer teams to flaunt gold shoe laces, as gold is the symbolic color for Pediatric Cancer Awareness. Full support was given to Miller by not only her fellow teammates, but by her coach, as well. Schell remarked, “Having Kayla with us today, as a sister, daughter, best friend and teammate makes everyday with her a blessing. We are aware of the fact that not everyone is as lucky as Kayla, and we are here to support her every step of the way!”

In all, multiple organizations helped Kayla Miller and raised over a $1,000. The monetary donations were all sent to Hopes and Heroes, a nonprofit foundation that raises money for research Pediatric Cancer. Both the Northwest Bergen Soccer Association and Hawthorne Recreational Soccer participated in the fundraiser. The devastation that cancer creates is not only extremely detrimental to a family, but it is also extremely costly. “It feels great to help and give raise to something that has affected my life so personally, like cancer has. I hope that even my team’s donation helps someone and make their struggle a little easier,” Kayla Miller stated.

A big thanks to both the JV and Varsity Soccer teams for helping support Childhood Cancer. If you feel like you would like to donate and help put an end to Childhood Cancer yourself, please follow the link below. Childhood Cancer has ruined so many lives, and Kayla Miller hopes to one day, make a big difference herself.

http://hopeandheroes.org/give/