Youth Soccer Players Help Kick Breast Cancer
This is the story of how one woman, Pam Bickel, working with a dedicated team, really makes a big difference and is amazing role model. Inspired by soccer moms battling breast cancer, the Kickin’ It Challenge tournament has raised over $145,000 for Susan G. Komen, San Diego since its inception four years ago.
Fundraising News: The fourth annual Kickin’ It Challenge, a three-day soccer tournament that brings San Diego’s and southern California’s youth soccer teams together to help fight the battle against breast cancer was held on June 19-21 at Frances Ryan Park in Escondido, CA.
One hundred percent of proceeds raised at the event go to Susan G. Komen, San Diego to provide free services to women for every step of their breast cancer journey, which includes education, outreach, free mammograms, financial assistance for living expenses, food assistance, transportation, breast cancer research and more.
“Every year this event gets better and better – we love the teams that come every year to support us and our mission to make a difference in the lives of the families touched by breast cancer,” said Pam Bickel, founder and president of the Kickin’ It Challenge and past president of Poway Youth Soccer. “We owe our success to all the teams that come out and help us make a difference.”
The difference one woman can make is amazing, especially with a team of talented and dedicated women who give up so much of their personal time to raise money for such an important cause. This year’s tournament was another huge success. A total of 110 participating teams played 189 games over the weekend and raised $45,000.
“Since its inception three years ago, the Kickin’ It Challenge has raised more than $100,000. The money raised from this event has provided countless mammograms to women, including soccer moms, who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford it,” said Laura Farmer-Sherman, executive director of Susan G. Komen San Diego. “The Kickin’ It Challenge makes a substantial difference for the women of San Diego.”
2015 POWER OF PINK (POP) Awards Winners:
Youth soccer teams winning the POP award will be granted free entrance to the 2016 Kickin’ It Challenge.
Boys FC Heat u12 Wilkes
Girls San Marcos Revolution U10
Bickel also started to reach across the country to see if others wish to join her in creating a similar tournament and last year, the Kickin’ It Challenge in the Carolinas took off with a three day, breast cancer fundraising event last year.
2015 Tournament Champions:
GU8 DMCV Sharks –Hammond
GU9 Scripps GU9 – Matthew
GU10 – Poway Carnaroli
GU11 – Corinthians Go Davies
GU12 Silver – San Marcos Resolution
GU12 Bronze – Scripps – Williamson
GU13 Bronze – San Marcos Revolution
GU13 Silver – Express Eyre
GU 14 Bronze – Celtic Hibs – Garcia
GU14 Silver – FC Heat
GU15 – Temecula
GU17 San Marcos Matrix Elite – Parise
BU9 Silver – Arsenal FC
BU9 Bronze Scripps
BU10 Silver Arsenal FC
Bu10 Bronze United FC
BU11 Silver – Surf Academy Heurta
BU11 Bronze – FC Heat Sweeney
BU12 San Marcos Revolution – Bullard
BU13 Bronze United FC – Black
BU13 Silver – San Marcos Revolution Green
BU14 Silver DMCV Sharks – Bodnar
BU15 Silver – Vista Storm Chavez
The Kickin’ It Challenge dedicated to Susan Connerley this year, is hosted by Poway Vaqueros Soccer Club and its founding partner soccerloco. Event collateral, tournament software and other items are donated by adidas, Wilson Trophy, the Catalyst Training Center and The Lock People. Additional sponsors include Sparkletts, Surf Cup Sports, Presidio Soccer League, Cal South and SoccerToday.
