The University of Minnesota Duluth soccer team is proud partner with the Circle of Hope and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network for the 2017 Kicks for Causes fundraiser on Saturday (Oct. 14) and Sunday (Oct. 15) in a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference matches. The two organizations were chosen by juniors
Madison Carey (Circle of Hope) and
Natalie St. Martin (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network).
Since 2014, the Bulldog soccer club have used designated home match ups throughout the season as a way to give back to the community by having the student-athletes select organizations to highlight and directly work with. Now in its fourth year of action, current-and-former players have campaigned with 21 organizations to promote awareness and help fundraise through
Kicks for Causes.
The list below features which players and their organizations have gone so far in 2017.
CIRCLE OF HOPE- SATURDAY, OCT. 14
Circle of Hope
is located out of Duluth, Minn., and is an organization committed to serving breast cancer patients in northern Minnesota and northern Wisconsin. They serve local breast cancer patients from cancer center referrals, physicians, oncologists, social workers, financial workers, nurse navigators, advertising, and from patients themselves. It is a non-profit charitable organization serving the public interest of helping people with breast cancer diagnosis. Their mission to assist breast cancer patients with paying for treatment costs and other daily living expenses. Through the Circle of Hope Fund at the School of Medicine at the UMD, they allocate funds for metastatic breast cancer research. They also host feel good events for their patients with feel good boxes, chemo caps and quilts.
Metastatic breast cancer is also known as stage IV or advanced breast cancer. The most advanced stage of breast cancer has the cancer spread beyond to other parts of the body (most often the bones, lungs, liver or brain) from the breasts. The breast cancer cells break off and travel through the blood stream or lymphatic system. Although it has spread to other parts of the body and manifested, the cancer cells are still considered and treated like breast cancer. With no cure, the only way is attempting to shrink or weaken the spread and manage the symptoms. The cancer never fully goes away as there is always a chance for recurrence. October 13, which is Friday, is National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day.
Madison Carey and her family have been taking on metastatic cancer head on since she was in high school. Madison received the news that her mother, Shelley, was diagnosed with the stage IV cancer when she was a junior at Maple Grove Senior High. Despite the devastating news, Shelley has been fortunate as she has been in remission for close to four-and-a-half years.
"There aren't a lot of people familiar with or even aware what exactly metastatic breast cancer is," said Carey. "Thankfully my mother has been cancer free because women who normally have it only get a short time to live. It's a long and hard process to go through. We believe that more research can be done to find more ways to treat and give women with this stage of cancer a higher chance to live and a better way to life."
The Carey family has been vocal in their push to create more research towards metastatic breast cancer. Madison's father, Curt, has previously done the The Susan G. Komen 3-Day walk that treks across 60 miles. Shelley has participated in the Stage IV Stampede, a half-mile walk to Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. in an effort to help shrine the beacon in ways to fund more money toward the research and more clinical trial drugs for patents who have exhausted all other forms.
"Even if we can't find a cure, we should be doing more to find better treatments. I feel blessed that my mom is still here and is supporting me at my games. Its those little things that mean a lot to me personally. I would like for other families to have better opportunities to share those moments that I have been so fortunate to have."
Circle of Hope will have a booth located at the game for fans to donate to their cause. Along with a donation box, there will be brochures and calendars available.
PANCREATIC CANCER ACTION NETWORK- SUNDAY OCT. 15
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) was founded in 1999. Their goal is to save lives by attacking pancreatic cancer on all fronts: research, clinical initiatives, patient services and advocacy. Pancreatic cancer takes 91 percent of its victims within five years and is the third leading cause of cancer-related death, and it is projected to become the second around 2020.
They are hoping to rewrite that story by making the impossible possible. They are determined through their efforts to improve treatments and patients' outcomes by doubling the survival rate by 2020. They are striving for: more researchers and resources, clinical trials that match patient needs, higher clinical trial enrollment rate, doctors delivering best practice, and creating more public awareness and visibility.
Pancreatic cancer starts when cells in the pancreas start to grow out of control. The pancreas is an organ that sits behind the stomach and releases enzymes that aid digestion and hormones that help manage blood sugar. The cancer is typically found in the late stages as symptoms don't appear until late. There are two types of cells in the pancreas, the exocrine cells and endocrine cells. Ninety-five percent have exocrine tumors. The tumor can then leave and spread to other parts of the body. Normally, liver failure happens when the tumor takes over. This year, about 53,700 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. About 43,000 people will die of pancreatic cancer.
"I wasn't really aware about pancreatic cancer," said St. Martin. "It was the first time ever being expose to it. You get a different perspective about life after it hits you, especially how rapidly it happens."
Ellie, one of St. Martin's childhood best friends, lost her father to pancreatic cancer last November right before Thanksgiving and the holiday season. It happened all too quickly as he was only diagnosed a little over a year before his passing.
"I was really close with Ellie and her entire family," said St Martin. "I grew up with him being my hockey coach. They were my second family as I used to vacation with them all the time for spring break. I remember when I first heard about the news, Ellie's mom told me that there was an extremely low chance that he would survive more than three years. It has been difficult because I'm not immediately there to talk to her at times. Also, this is the first time that Ellie and I have been apart since we are at different colleges now. Before, I used to walk through the woods and be in her backyard.
Having a firsthand experience, St. Martin is attempting to give back.
"He was an influence on my athletic career. I'm trying to do my part now to honor him and open up the door to others. I want more people to be aware of pancreatic cancer and to be alert of any symptoms."
PanCAN will have a booth located at the game for fans to donate to their cause. Along with a donation box, there will be additional fact sheets and flyers about pancreatic cancer. Pamela Marshall, who is with the Minnesota affiliate, will be at the booth for Sunday's game. Her father passed away on Jan. 30, 2016 to the same disease.
UMD encourages fans to help support both causes in any matter that they can. If you are unavailable to make it to either game this weekend and are looking for additional information on
Circle of Hope or
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, click on the organizational name.
If you still wish to donate to either organization, follow the appropriate links below.
Donate to Circle of Hope
Donate to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Be sure to stop on by this weekend at James S. Malosky Stadium when the Bulldogs take on the Southwest Minnesota State University (Saturday, 1:00 p.m.) and Sioux Falls University (Sunday, 1:00 p.m.) to help each cause and to watch UMD chase for a bid into the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference playoffs.
