The words ‘breast cancer? often carry the connotation of fear and hopelessness.
They sometimes bring tears to the eyes of those who have lost someone to the fight or been close to someone who has.
They serve the function of pulling off the invisibility cloaks of their victims, reminding people that, yes, this disease is real, and it can happen to you.
But, for the girls of Oxford Soccer Club’s U-11 team, the words ‘breast cancer? remind them of what it means to have friends and family, people who care about them and are there for them.
These 12 girls, though they are young, now know the true meaning of love and togetherness, and it’s all because they wanted a chance to show their friend and teammate, Olivia Thompson, how much they cared for her when she found out her mother had been diagnosed with Breast Cancer.
‘We found out right before the season started,? said Coach Dan Williams. ‘We were deciding what we were going to do, but we wanted the focus to be on getting better. We didn’t want the girls to be so sad.?
Williams took the initiative to buy a breast cancer awareness band for every girl on the team along with a Race for the Cure ball that they play with at every home game. At the end of the season, they are all going to sign it and give it to Olivia’s mother, Karen.
‘From there, Stacey Eschberger took it a step further and said lets register the team for Race for the Cure. She designed shirts, came up with Karen’s Kickers and it’s been the best thing,? said Williams.
Every girl on the team participated in the race with their mothers, Olivia and Karen included. ‘It makes you feel so good, like we can actually save her or something,? said Katelin Cramer, 11.
All the girls on the team agreed that they felt lucky to have the opportunity to help their friend and her mom whom they have all grown so close to over the years. ‘It’s just so amazing how tight-knit and close together we are,? said Williams.
And while it may take some a lifetime or longer to learn the meaning of loyalty and friendship, it seems these girls have conquered it in a short, two-word lesson, ‘breast cancer.?
This is most apparent in Grace Frieberg, 10, who is one of the youngest girls on the team. She said that their goal as a team was just to make sure that Olivia and her mom were safe.
‘I mean, a lot of people don’t have friends to help them when their parents are sick or when something is wrong. But we’re not like those people,? she said. ‘All of us are here to help Olivia and her mom.?
In a previous interview with WDIV, Karen revealed that she had been ignoring her doctor’s recommendation for a mammogram. As a mother of four, it just wasn’t one of her pressing priorities.
‘I never would have found it, and I never would have gone,? she said. But, it was a giftcard incentive that drove Thompson to her test.
Although the team does not want all the attention and focus to be on her, it is important to get the word out so people know the danger and the reality.
‘It’s more about awareness,? said Williams. ‘Our focus is on soccer, but always in the back of our mind we’re just there for each other.?
‘When I’m sad they all come to me and support me, and I think that’s the best thing,? said Olivia. ‘Just being there for me and my mom.?