Last year, more than $210,000 from a single day of soccer was brought together by hundreds of Tri-Cities and Metro Vancouver residents for the benefit of childhood cancer research.
Kick for a Cure, an annual day-long summer friendly exhibition in Coquitlam by the Michael Cuccione Foundation, helped collect and surpass $1 million for BC Children's Hospital (BCCH).
Now, its 16th edition is looming and another year of five- or six-figure fundraising total is looking very much possible.
As of this publication (June 28), 33 teams have signed up for the cause at Town Centre Park next Saturday (July 8) consisting of more than 250 players of all ages.
The event includes co-ed adult and youth tournaments, as well as soccer clinics for kids, all while donating money toward CAR-T cell therapy and personalized treatments for patients with leukemia and lymphoma.
"Advances in cancer research and treatment over the past 50 years have yielded a miraculous 80 to 85 per cent cure rate for many childhood cancers," the foundation said in a social media post.
"By supporting Michael Cuccione Foundation, you contribute to the development of safer treatments for children with cancer."
Michael Cuccione died in 2001 after a respiratory failure following complications from a vehicle accident. The foundation was founded by his parents, Gloria and Domenic.
Michael had also beat cancer twice in his 16 years of life. He was en route to becoming a successful actor–musician and had lived in the United States for some time to pursue his dream.
In 2022, which marked the two-year return following the pandemic, $120,000 was the highest individual total raised by a team: Methanex United.
Interested attendees that won't be kicking a ball around can expect lots of entertainment, including:
- Live DJ
- Food vendors and a beer garden
- Family Fun Zone
- Sports celebrity meet-and-greets
Kick for a Cure is scheduled to take place July 8 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Town Centre Park (1299 Pinetree Way).
For more information, to make a donation or to sign up for the soccer tournaments, you can visit the event's website.
