Though mid-April does not seem like the middle of a soccer season, Creighton University’s Morrison stadium will be rocking and cheering this Saturday for a special cause.
The fourth annual Kicks for a Cure will be back in full swing in hopes of breaking its fundraising record of $151,050 set last year, with every dime going to cancer research. The program has been very successful, as it has raised more than $400,000 in four years for cancer research.
Kicks for a Cure was introduced by Dave Karnes and Steve and Amy Lindsay in spring 2006 after nearly two years of work and dreams. All the proceeds raised by the program are given to the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Eppley Cancer Center and the Creighton University Medical Center’s Hereditary Cancer Center.
On top of those contributions, a $5,000 endowment was given to the Creighton women’s soccer team for their hard work and help with the program.
According to its Web site, the primary purpose of the weekend is to raise awareness for women’s cancer education and prevention. It is also an opportunity to generate a broader interest in women’s collegiate athletics and to showcase Omaha as a compassionate, vibrant community where health care, education, commerce and recreation intertwine.
Sophomore midfielder Emily Orbell helped with the program last year.
“I participated in the Kicks for a Cure program last year and had a great experience,” Orbell said. “It’s for an awesome cause and I feel lucky to be able to take part in it.”
Because it is spring and the team plays an exhibition game, seniors are not on the roster and don’t help out with the program. But senior forward Nicole DeLue has helped with this program from the start.
“I have participated in Kicks for a Cure since my freshman year,” DeLue said. “It is an amazing way to raise money for
cancer [research].”
This will be junior forward Jordan Bruch’s third year in participating in the program.
“I think it is the best thing we do as a team to help get the community involved,” Bruch said. “The clinic we put on for underprivileged children is what I look forward to the most. The kids are so happy and excited to be playing on Creighton’s field and hanging out with players and meeting the coaches.”
The Youth Soccer Clinic will be held this afternoon. It will be put on by Creighton’s women’s soccer team and coaches as well as players and coaches from the University of Nebraska-Omaha women’s soccer team. About 150 boys and girls ages 8-14 are expected to take part in the clinic.
On Saturday, Morrison Stadium will play host to three collegiate exhibition games and one high school match. Saturday will open up play with a very competitive match between two top 10 teams in the state of Nebraska. The top-ranked Millard West Wildcats will take on the number 10-ranked Lincoln Southwest Silverhawks at 11 a.m. Following that match, the University of South Dakota will take on the University of Kansas at 1:30. The University of Nebraska-Omaha matchup against Truman State University at 3:30 will follow that, and the day’s matches will be concluded when Creighton faces off against Iowa State University at 6. There will be an autograph session following each match.
The Bluejays are excited to face the Iowa State women’s soccer team.
“We’re practicing hard and focusing on the aspects of the game that will most likely bring us success against Iowa State,” Orbell said. “It should be a physical match, but we’re all pretty excited to play them.”