Whiz Kids: Nonnewaug High School Field Hockey Team Play 4 the Cure

For the past few years, if you’ve attended a Nonnewaug High School field hockey game in October, you’ve seen the Chiefs ditch their royal blue for something  pink -- the iconic color for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

This year is no different, as the girls will mark their fourth year involved in the national Play 4 The Cure event.

The team will host its pink game at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, against Litchfield High School at Nonnewaug High School.

The girls will exchange their official team jerseys and skirts for special pink hued ones, sell pink breast cancer awareness wrist bands and pass an official bucket around the stands for free will donations.

For sophomore player Jackie Borges, the Play 4 the Cure game is personal. Her mother is a 12-year breast cancer survivor and Borges plans to dedicate the game against Litchfield to her mom.

"I want to use this game to be able to say how proud I am to call her my mom," said Borges.

Borges feels that the Play 4 the Cure tradition is a great idea especially given the amount of people diagnosed with breast cancer.

"I love the fact that people are taking notice," Borges said. "I don’t think there is anyone out there who doesn’t know someone who has had or has breast cancer. I am so glad that through the P4TC game, we make it known that we are gladly supporting the cause."

History of Play 4 The Cure

The Chiefs began this annual fundraiser in 2008 when they played their first Play 4 The Cure pink game. They wore pink ribbons in their hair and raised $75 for breast cancer awareness.

Since then, they have raised more than $500 for a breast cancer charity picked by the team. Both the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the American Cancer Society have been recipients of the Chief’s fundraising donations.

"I think it is a wonderful opportunity for our team to come together and support such a great cause," said Kathryn Brenner, the Chief’s Field Hockey Coach. "For the last few years we played Litchfield High School for our P4tC game and it has now become a tradition between the two teams."

Brenner says the Play 4 the Cure game has not only developed a bond between two high school field hockey teams, but it has also increased the awareness in the school's community as well as the two towns involved.

Play 4 The Cure was created by a Philadelphia-based field hockey team’s coach in 2006 who was inspired to do something when several of her players’ mothers were concurrently diagnosed with breast cancer. A benefit game was developed where proceeds went to the Susan G. Komen Foundation and Play 4 the Cure was born.

Play 4 The Cure now invites any school, collegiate or club field hockey team in the country to participate. There are more than 50 schools in Connecticut and hundreds across the country.

Play 4 The Cure recently partnered with Longstreth Women’s Sport’s and the company provides a free fundraising kit offered to participants. The kits include the pink rubber wrist bands to sell, the official pink game ball of the P4tC, suggestions for field hockey teams on how to raise money and other information.

"It is a special game for both me and my players," said Brenner. "Everyone knows someone who has been diagnosed with cancer. The P4tC game shows support to those who are fighting it, dealing with it, and/or have beat it. It is a wonderful way to give back to those in need and hopefully they will find a cure very soon."