Kicks for Cancer scores by hitting $1 million in program fundraising

The roar of the crowd is the first sign you’re in the right place. A sea of pink and teal jerseys come into focus next. Look closely and you’ll see hundreds of names etched on the backs of those jerseys—Mom, Uncle Josh, Wendy, Jenna, Lois. This is Kicks for Cancer.

Kicks for Cancer began in 2007 when Ray Pavlik, head coach of Concord-Carlisle High School’s (CCHS) men’s varsity soccer team, sought a way to support his assistant coach, Steve Wells, and Steve’s brother, Dan, after their mother Lois Wells lost her courageous battle with ovarian cancer.  That first year, the CCHS players sported pink jerseys with “WELLS” on the back in memory of Lois, and the event raised $8,000 to support research of women’s cancers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Fast forward almost 20 years and Kicks for Cancer has grown to a week full of events, with multiple sports participating, 16 soccer matches, and, as of 2024, more than $1 million raised for Dana-Farber.

“There have been many people who have contributed to the success and inspiration that Kicks for Cancer has become,” shares Event Chair Trish Siefer. “I think it’s more than you even imagine until you see it and feel it. We cheer on all the teams as they run onto the field and thank them for playing an important role in this good cause. The crowd is in the thousands, and the energy is so high. It feels like magic.”

This event holds a special place in Trish’s heart after the passing of her sister-in-law, Wendy, in 2016, and her friend, Jenna, in 2018, both from cancer. Jenna played an integral role in the creation of the Mighty Moose 5K Run/Walk for Ovarian Cancer, which is part of the Kicks for Cancer weekend.

“After Wendy passed, my son was playing soccer and Ray had given us Kicks for Cancer shirts for the whole family, and on the back was Wendy’s name,” says Trish. “It was such a kind gesture in a really tough moment. I knew then I wanted to get involved, and it’s given me a place to channel my tribute, honor, and grief for Wendy.”

Today, Kicks for Cancer supports research, led by Dipanjan Chowdhury, PhD, focused on finding an early detection tool for ovarian cancer—a nod to Jenna’s work on the event before her passing. The event is currently the largest fundraiser in the Junior Jimmy Fundraiser program, a school fundraising program through the Jimmy Fund that encourages students to turn their passion or hobby into a fundraiser to support cancer care and research. Trish shares that the event has grown organically and more Concord-Carlisle teams have become involved, including, but not limited to, the football team’s Tackles for Cancer, the golf team’s Links for Cancer, and the volleyball team’s Digs for Cancer, all occurring the week leading up to the main event. The main event has also grown to include music and art, and on the Friday before the Kicks for Cancer soccer matches, CCHS students break out their boldest pinks and “Kicks” shirts to prepare for the weekend ahead.

The group isn’t stopping anytime soon. This year, they established the Concord-Carlisle Kicks for Cancer Fund at Dana-Farber, which comes with a commitment to raise another $500,000 for the Institute over the next three to five years. The creation of this fund furthers their dedication to this important work and allows students and community members to continue to contribute to the fund year-round, evolving their support to include support from clubs, school projects, and other passion projects.

“Our goal is to help other women survive this disease—to help children not lose their mothers and families not lose their loved ones. We don’t want other people to go through this,” Trish explains. “The funds raised at this event truly make a difference and have an impact on the research. We are so proud that we can help save lives.”

Join Kicks for Cancer to help support Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s lifesaving mission to provide compassionate patient care and groundbreaking cancer research for children and adults. 

Since 1948, the generosity of millions of people has helped the Jimmy Fund save countless lives and reduce the burden of cancer for patients and families worldwide through community-based fundraising events and other programs that solely and directly benefit Dana-Farber. Learn more about how you can get involved at JimmyFund.org, and follow the Jimmy Fund on Facebook, X, and Instagram: @TheJimmyFund.