Westwood Athletes to 'Make Strides' Against Breast Cancer

You might notice a hue of pink in the air this afternoon and evening if you plan to attend any of the numerous sporting events taking place in Westwood.

The reason? All athletes in Westwood on Friday are showing their support for breast cancer awareness by donning the color pink - whether it be in the form of a pink lacrosse ball, soccer jersey, swim cap or wrist band.

"We're hoping it's going to be a pink overload almost," said Amy Davenport, head coach of the 's junior varsity girls soccer team, which will also be one of the many teams taking part in a benefit walk known as Making Strides Against Breast Cancer on Sunday in Boston.

This year, the team has already raised $3,765 (the junior varsity soccer team also held a raffle during the last two weeks at local youth soccer games, at which the group raised almost $1,400). But the team will continue to collect donations even after Sunday, and those who wish to donate can do so by visiting the team's website here.

The athletes themselves are more than eager to compete in Friday's games, as well as to take part in Sunday's walk. (To see what some of the varsity soccer team's players had to say about the event, .)

And for those who will be cheering the teams on in their Friday games, fans and parents can give donations to anyone on the sidelines or in the stands wearing pink shirts.

"We have athletes who are staffed, who have volunteered their time for every single home contest," Davenport said. "We'll have people at gates of all stadium and field and school entrances collecting money."

The girls varsity soccer team began taking part in the walk six years ago, when Davenport, also an English teacher at Westwood High School, was coaching the freshmen girls' soccer team. Over the course of six years, the team has raised nearly $30,0000.

But this will be the first time all athletes at Westwood High School will be lending a hand. According to Angela Wilson, an English teacher at Westwood High School and the varsity field hockey head coach, all of the school's 445 athletes will be wearing Breast Cancer Awareness Armbands, which were donated by the Westwood Boosters Club.

Adding to that, each team is encouraged to tie the color pink into other, sport-specific aspects of their team uniforms.

As for Sunday's 5.8-mile walk, which begins and ends at the Hatch Shell by the Charles River in Boston, the athletes and coaches are ready to go.

"I really love the event because it's non-competitive and it's not really long," Davenport said. "A lot of (cancer) survivors participate and a lot of people who are in treatment participate."

One such person participating is Linda Hanlon of the Westwood High School English Department, a breast cancer survivor. The team walking will wear shirts bearing the words "Team Hanlon," Davenport said.

The Westwood High School Cheerleading Squad will also be wearing pink arm bands at Friday night's varsity football game at home against Norton, according to cheerleading coach Heather Brown.

"This is for the kids to learn that . . . there are people that are suffering out there and we need to start opening the horizon for kids today," said Brown, who will be walking on Sunday as well with her 20 cheerleaders. "They know things are going on but they don't see it affected."

Seeing the collaboration between all athletes in town to raise awareness is something that Westwood Superintendent John Antonucci said is more than inspiring.

"I'm really impressed with it, and I'm really proud of the work that the students are doing and raising awareness of such an awful disease," he said. "Anything we can do to support the kids in that effort, we want to do."