BROCKPORT, N.Y. – This weekend The College at Brockport, St. John Fisher and Nazareth Women's Soccer teams will all travel to SUNY Geneseo for the eighth annual Golden Challenge for a Pink Cure series. In 2009, former Brockport head coach Joan Schockow initiated the idea with her good friend and Nazareth head coach Gail Mann to brainstorm ideas for a way to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research.
The two considered several names before someone threw out the winning idea of putting Golden in the title. Golden Challenge for a Pink Cure won thanks in part to Brockport and Nazareth's nicknames both possessing the term golden. In order to commemorate the affiliation with breast cancer research, both teams donned either pink uniforms or black uniforms with pink numbers.
"I talked to the owners of Soccer Shack about the idea of pink uniforms," said Schockow. "The owners were in 100 percent! They negotiated with Nike for uniform ideas and also were able to create a crest for the game as well."
The next question to arise, was what to do with the money raised from the event? Both coaches Schockow and Mann decided the proceeds should be given to Wilmot Cancer Center. A mutual friend (and teammate) of theirs, Megan MacKenzie was previously diagnosed with cancer and given slim chances of survival. Wilmot Cancer Center developed and implemented a plan that Schockow credits for saving her friend's life.
MacKenzie is no stranger to the soccer series either. She has attended every single weekend series and is honored with the annual kickoff of the event.
In 2013, the series expanded to include St. John Fisher and Geneseo as Brockport played the host. The teams rotate the hosting privileges as Fisher hosted in 2014, Nazareth last year and Geneseo hosting this season before the tournament returns to its original campus of Brockport in 2017. The campuses have applied different creative strategies each year to help raise additional funds for the worthy cause.
Currently to date the Golden Challenge for a Pink Cure has raised just shy of $15,000 for the Wilmot Cancer Center. Proceeds can come from ticket sales, concessions, donations and/or T-shirt sales.
Brockport and Nazareth open Saturday's event at 4:30 p.m. while Geneseo and St. John Fisher conclude the series at 7 p.m. on the campus of the Geneseo Knights.
Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Golden Eagle scores and awards by following @BportAthletics on Twitter and by liking the "Brockport Golden Eagles" Facebook page.
