SCSYSL to Host a 'Paint the Pitch Pink' Match

More than 1.5 million new cancer cases were diagnosed in the United States in 2010, and about 8% of women and men decide not to have chemotherapy because they are afraid to lose their hair. For Coach Mike Berg of the SCSYSL team, this hits close to home.  He watched as his wife shaved the head of his crying mother-in-law.

During the month of October the team has been collecting loose change for every goal scored. And their sponsor Caffe Far Bella has also been collecting donations to raise money for The Rapunzel Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping cancer patients keep their hair during chemotherapy.  

The Rapunzel Project’s mission is to inform patients that they have an option utilizing cold cap therapy, a technology used in Europe, to prevent hair loss associated with chemotherapy. Cold cap therapy involves the use of special caps, frozen to a very cold temperature and worn before, during and after each chemotherapy treatment. The cooling of the hair follicles prevents chemotherapy toxins from reaching them, preserving the follicles and therefore preserving the patient’s hair. Cold cap therapy is available in Michigan through Beaumont Hospital of Royal Oak, Rose Cancer Center, and Botsford Cancer Center of Farmington Hills.

On Oct. 27 the U-14 team will be hosting their “Paint the Pitch Pink” game at Kyte Monroe. Players have been wearing pink shirts with the names of loved ones affected by cancer thanks to the great folks at Progressive Mechanical of Ferndale. After the game there will be a ceremony where Coach Mike will announce the names of the loved ones and players will present survivors in attendance with a pink carnation and then the team will launch balloons to end the ceremony.

For more information about The Rapunzel Project visit www.rapunzelproject.org or http://abcnews.go.com/Health/OnCallPlus/cold-cap-therapy-women-chemotherapy-hair/story?id=11985624 

For more information about Cold Cap Therapy visit http://www.aolhealth.com/condition-center/breast-cancer/awareness-month/cold-cap-therapy-chemotherap... womens-hair?icid=main|main|dl6|sec1_lnk3|180663