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Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Panther Creek Hosts Kick it to Cancer Soccer Showcase
Raleigh Durham, NC
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By: Richard Williams
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Photo(s) By: Richard Williams
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Panther Creek High School hosted the 2nd Annual “Kick it to Cancer Soccer Showcase” August 15-16 to raise money for cancer research. Twelve local teams, including last year’s 4A State Champion, Broughton, and perennial 2A powerhouse Cardinal Gibbons helped round out the field.
The event raised between $15,000 - $20,000 that will be split between the individual team’s booster clubs and the Jimmy V Foundation. The event drew between 1,200 and 1,500 people over the two-day event.
This marks the first year that the Jimmy V Foundation was the beneficiary of the “Kick it to Cancer Soccer Showcase.” Last year, while the tournament benefited the American Cancer Society, organizers wanted to find an organization with local ties, and Jimmy V fit the bill.
Panther Creek High School’s Athletic Director Todd Schuler created the showcase as a way to blend two key elements in his life – helping good causes and soccer. While fundraising is integral to high school athletics, Schuler wasn’t keen on having his athletes go door-to-door.
“The Triangle has such a great soccer community and we wanted to create an event that celebrated soccer and helped raise money for a good cause,” said Schuler. “It was also a good opportunity to teach 15 – 17 years old players that when they work together they can do something bigger than themselves.”
Schuler said they received great feedback from the event last year, so very early in this year’s planning process, other coaches started asking about participating.
“Cancer touches so many lives that it is easy for everyone to relate to,” added Schuler. “The goal was to create something the entire Triangle could embrace and give teams a chance to play each other they might not have during the regular season.”
On Friday night, Broughton, Jordan, Panther Creek and Pinecrest slogged it out in a downpour. Saturday morning brought clear skies for Millbrook, Riverside, Clayton and Cary to play in early rounds. Wakefield, Southeast Raleigh, Green Hope and Cardinal Gibbons faced off in the afternoon.
To help round out the showcase, event planners added a “Spike it to Cancer” girls’ volleyball showcase.
According to Steve Seigel, one of the event’s organizers, the plan is to grow the event each year, adding more teams and potentially more fall sports to the mix.
“We started with six teams last year and had 12 this year,” said Siegel, “Volleyball was new this year and something we’d like to include again, along with any other sport. The sky is the limit.”
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Isaac Minor
This month VYPE interviewed Isaac Minor, a junior on Fuquay-Varina High School’s Varsity Football Team…an activity that is very familiar...
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