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Tuesday, November 18th, 2008
Pink for day: Red Arrows take aim at breast cancer
The Lowell "Pink Arrows" enter the stadium before their game against Holland.
by Jane Bos | The Grand Rapids Press
Saturday September 13, 2008, 12:00 AM
Press Photo/T.J. Hamilton
LOWELL, MI -- The skies above were gray, but below, everything was pink.
There were pink rain jackets and T-shirts, pink popcorn and programs, pink stickers and balloons, pink body paint and hair. Even the field goal pads and the words painted on the Lowell High School football field were pink.
Friday night, the Lowell Red Arrows became the Pink Arrows. And for one night -- their first home game of the season -- they took on visiting Holland, along with battling breast cancer.
The game began an hour before kickoff when, hand in hand, the Pink Arrows marched from the high school down to the field, wearing pink jerseys with the name of a cancer victim or survivor written on the back.
Senior co-captain Torsten Boss, an all-state utility player from a year ago, had Gregaitis across his back.
"Oh, just look at me, this is unbelievable," said Mary Gregaitis, 45, who has been cancer-free for two and a half years, pointing to her tears. "I cannot tell you what this means to me."
The Pink Arrow Project, organized by the Lowell football program, will help many deal with cancer. The program is expected to raise more than $100,000, coach Noel Dean said. And all the proceeds will stay in the community to help families deal with issues surrounding breast cancer and in the form of scholarships.
A third of the proceeds will go to the Lowell Community Wellness Organization to help local families touched by breast cancer find the resources to deal with the issues.
The rest of the money will be split between two scholarships -- one in the memory of longtime Lowell teacher Kathy Talus, who lost her battle with breast cancer four years ago. The other will honor longtime team doctor Dr. Donald Gerard to benefit Lowell graduates attending medical school.
"It's been pretty cool at school," said David Burnett, a junior wearing pink and watching Friday's game. "Almost everyone at school is doing this, and it's been a good thing."
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LOWELL: Pink Arrow Project numbers are in. Proceeds were $93,000 in sales from Lowell High School's varsity football game Sept. 12, when players wore pink jerseys and fans bought pink T-shirts and other items in support of breast cancer awareness. The fundraiser will distribute $25,000 to the Kathy Talus Scholarship Fund, awarded to female athletes in honor of the late teacher and coach; $25,000 for a scholarship to a Lowell High graduate accepted into medical school in honor of team physician, Dr. Don Gerard; $25,000 to Lowell Community Wellness, to be used for resources and support for those with cancer and their families; and $15,000 to Lowell Community Wellness for educational programs focusing on cancer and science education in the district. The 7,000 mostly pink-clad fans who watched the game saw Lowell defeat Holland, 42-0.
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Kathy was my wifes Sister. She passed away in 2004. Wow, time passes. Thanks for the memories.
Pink for day: Red Arrows take aim at breast cancer
The Lowell "Pink Arrows" enter the stadium before their game against Holland.
by Jane Bos | The Grand Rapids Press
Saturday September 13, 2008, 12:00 AM
Press Photo/T.J. Hamilton
LOWELL, MI -- The skies above were gray, but below, everything was pink.
There were pink rain jackets and T-shirts, pink popcorn and programs, pink stickers and balloons, pink body paint and hair. Even the field goal pads and the words painted on the Lowell High School football field were pink.
Friday night, the Lowell Red Arrows became the Pink Arrows. And for one night -- their first home game of the season -- they took on visiting Holland, along with battling breast cancer.
The game began an hour before kickoff when, hand in hand, the Pink Arrows marched from the high school down to the field, wearing pink jerseys with the name of a cancer victim or survivor written on the back.
Senior co-captain Torsten Boss, an all-state utility player from a year ago, had Gregaitis across his back.
"Oh, just look at me, this is unbelievable," said Mary Gregaitis, 45, who has been cancer-free for two and a half years, pointing to her tears. "I cannot tell you what this means to me."
The Pink Arrow Project, organized by the Lowell football program, will help many deal with cancer. The program is expected to raise more than $100,000, coach Noel Dean said. And all the proceeds will stay in the community to help families deal with issues surrounding breast cancer and in the form of scholarships.
A third of the proceeds will go to the Lowell Community Wellness Organization to help local families touched by breast cancer find the resources to deal with the issues.
The rest of the money will be split between two scholarships -- one in the memory of longtime Lowell teacher Kathy Talus, who lost her battle with breast cancer four years ago. The other will honor longtime team doctor Dr. Donald Gerard to benefit Lowell graduates attending medical school.
"It's been pretty cool at school," said David Burnett, a junior wearing pink and watching Friday's game. "Almost everyone at school is doing this, and it's been a good thing."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOWELL: Pink Arrow Project numbers are in. Proceeds were $93,000 in sales from Lowell High School's varsity football game Sept. 12, when players wore pink jerseys and fans bought pink T-shirts and other items in support of breast cancer awareness. The fundraiser will distribute $25,000 to the Kathy Talus Scholarship Fund, awarded to female athletes in honor of the late teacher and coach; $25,000 for a scholarship to a Lowell High graduate accepted into medical school in honor of team physician, Dr. Don Gerard; $25,000 to Lowell Community Wellness, to be used for resources and support for those with cancer and their families; and $15,000 to Lowell Community Wellness for educational programs focusing on cancer and science education in the district. The 7,000 mostly pink-clad fans who watched the game saw Lowell defeat Holland, 42-0.
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Kathy was my wifes Sister. She passed away in 2004. Wow, time passes. Thanks for the memories.
http://www.raf.mod.uk/reds/