In a powerful display of unity, youth soccer players from VE Lowinnen and YMS joined forces during their game on September 22 to raise awareness for childhood cancer as part of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The initiative was led by Rob Kelly, head coach of the 2010 girls VE Lowinnen team.
A few weeks prior, one of Kelly’s players missed a match to support her friend and teammate from Upper Moreland, Chloe, who had a ceremonial kickoff in her honor. Kelly wondered, “How can we shine a light and raise awareness on this horrible disease?”
To show support, Kelly decided to have his team wear gold tape around their right wrists, symbolizing the fight against childhood cancer. The idea quickly expanded when Kelly reached out to Coach Dani of YMS to see if they would like to join the cause. The response was immediate and enthusiastic, with YMS players also donning gold tape on their right wrists.
The collaboration didn’t just involve the two teams – the referees also joined the effort. Before the match, both teams gathered for photos, not as opponents, but as a united group of youth soccer players standing in solidarity for one of their own.
“The fact that we were able to come together with a club like YMS to raise awareness for childhood cancer and unite our shared love for the game, means everything,” said Kelly. “We are very fortunate to be a part of a club like Vereinigung Erzgebirge, which has such a strong tradition in our community of making a difference and prioritizing the well-being of every player.”
The impact of this powerful collaboration reached far beyond the soccer field. Through the combined efforts of VE Lowinnen and YMS, youth soccer became a platform for raising awareness and supporting children like Chloe in their fight against cancer. This display of unity perfectly reflects the values of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer – community, compassion and strength through teamwork. It’s a reminder that soccer is more than a game; it’s an opportunity to come together for a greater cause.
“We heard Chloe’s story and just knew that we had to stand with her,” Kelly said. “Our team hopes, however little it is, that we inspire others to take action and see the power of teamwork off the field as well as on!”
To further amplify this important cause, Kelly invites everyone to read and share Chloe’s inspiring story, which is linked below.
Chloe’s Story: https://chop.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=152905