Western joins Warriors in Pink cancer program

The Walled Lake Western Football team won’t just be Warriors on the field this upcoming October — they will also take part in Ford’s Warriors in Pink program as they host their first ever Warriors for Warriors event October 14-15.

“It all started with somebody wanting to wear pink shoelaces for breast cancer (awareness) during October. Coach (Mike Zdebski) said, ‘Hey, it’s no big deal to wear pink. Let’s do something to raise funds.’ And so we started to put together this fund-raising event together with Ford’s Warriors in Pink program,” said Sandy Jenkin, a member of the Warriors for Warriors committee and whose husband works for Ford. Jenkin also has two sons involved in Western’s football program.

Western’s football program has recently received state recognition for its commitment to community service.

“It’s one of the focuses for the Western football team. The coach feels very strongly about it,” said Judy Evola, director of community relations and marketing for the Walled Lake Consolidated School District.

According to Jenkin, Warriors for Warriors is an opportunity for not just the football team but for the whole community to not only support breast cancer research but to raise funds and awareness of the disease. And while for now it remains a Western football event, the Warriors for Warriors Committee hopes it will become a school district- and community-wide event.

“It’s not just a matter of wearing something pink in a show of solidarity,” Jenkin said. “We are asking the school community to get involved in raising funds for breast cancer.”

One way for the community to get involved is by sponsoring the event, which spans two days. The event kicks off with a Western home football game on Oct. 14 where the cost of admission is purchasing pink Warriors for Warriors T-shirts for $15.

“We hope to have 2,000 to 2,500 people in the stands wearing these T-shirts,” Jenkin said. “The boys will be wearing pink jerseys that they raised funds for themselves in honor of or memory of someone they knew with breast cancer. After the game, there will be a presentation with the players donating the jerseys to the people they played in honor of. We’re not just asking them to wear pink. We want them to take pride and ownership of doing something for somebody else.”

T-shirts will first go on sale at school registration day and will continue through game day.

Community members will also have the chance to have a Western player play in honor of a loved one who has battled cancer by taking part in an auction. Those interested in participating in the auction should contact Sharon Krause by e-mail at skrause@twmi.rr.com.

Oct. 15 will feature a 5K race. To register for the race or make a donation, go to www.wlwfootball.com/PINKWARRIORS.html. All net proceeds will go to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or volunteering your time, contact Sandy Jenkin at sandyjenkin@hotmail.com.