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They may be small, but these kids are kicking cancer one soccer ball at a time
“People are sick so we are helping raise money so they can get to the doctor,” said Charlie, one of Kicking Cancer Campers.
The Linda W. Daniel Foundation hosted a “Kicking Cancer” Kids Soccer Camp Saturday morning at Cos Cob Park to help raise money for cancer research and prevention, a cause close to the founders’ heart.
“The Foundation was started in memory of my mother,” said Kyle Daniel, Chairman and Founder of The Linda W. Daniel Foundation. “She passed away when I was senior in high school from multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. I always knew I wanted to do something to honor her and remember her and I grew up playing soccer so we came up with the idea of “Kicking Cancer.”
The event was the Daniel’s third “Kicking Cancer” event, having hosted two in Columbus, Ohio before moving to Greenwich a few years ago.
“Our goal is to create a blueprint for people to be able to take this camp and do it within their own communities and use our organization as a way to give them the infrastructure. So then they can take the money they raise and give it to the organizations that mean the most to them,” said Daniel.
Proceeds from the event benefited the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Lee Jones, PhD, an Exercise Scientist at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center said, “If you look at the fundraising events, particularly around cancer, a lot of them are exercise based. There are always walks and fun runs and other things so to see the children out here playing soccer, is just a great way to raise money and awareness for the things that we do.”
“We know that money that we get for research is extremely important for further discoveries,” continued Jones. “Research money is becoming tighter and tighter so anything we can get makes a tremendous difference.”
The little athletes spent the morning at several stations running, playing tug-of-war and of course playing soccer.
“It is just so fun! It is a good exercise for you,” said Charlie.
“The link between physical inactivity, obesity, diet are things that have a tremendous influence on incidents in cancer later in life. It is very important for children to develop these [physical] habits when they are younger but it is also really important for parents to know that every step counts and for them to get out. Even if it’s just a walk or garden, anything they can do to get out and get active, they are all really important things to do,” said Daniel.
