Tinley Park High School girls soccer team hosts Lace Up for Pediatric Cancer game
TINLEY PARK, Ill. — Every goal matters on the soccer field. But on Tuesday, April 26, the goal had nothing to do with the score.
The Tinley Park High School girls soccer team partnered with Go4theGoal — a foundation that aims to help children with cancer by giving personal support, financial aid and funding research — to host a Lace Up for Pediatric Cancer game against Argo High School.
TPHS became involved in the benefit game after girls soccer coach Kelsey Neylon spoke with Nick Kelleher, assistant director of athletics for Go4theGoal.
“We just felt it would be a great opportunity for our girls,” Neylon said.
Prior to the game, TPHS and Argo both ordered gold laces for the players’ shoes for use during the game — the proceeds of which went directly to the foundation. The teams also created T-shirts and held a split-the-pot raffle during the game to benefit the foundation.
“The girls loved it, and we had a lot of interest in it,” Neylon said. “For our girls, I think it is nice for them to kind of take a step back from just playing the game to be able to see the larger picture and be able to represent and help a great cause. They really, truly felt a connection with [the cause] and expressed their enjoyment in being able to help out and do something for a great cause.”
The cause also is a personal one for Neylon. When she was in high school, her best friend’s brother passed away because of pediatric brain cancer.
“This definitely was something that touched my heart,” she said.
The success of the Lace Up event also has Neylon thinking ahead to next year. She hopes to add to the event by recognizing families that have been affected by pediatric cancer.
“We are going to continue on with this next year and try to [expand] on it,” she said.
Learn more about Go4theGoal at https://go4thegoal.org/.