WOODBURY ー Almost every year, Nonnewaug’s pink-out homecoming games in October support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This year, the homecoming games are set to be a gold-out … but why gold?
This year’s annual homecoming games are Sept. 19, leaving many to wonder what the new theme would be as the games are a month earlier. Kyle Brennan, a social studies teacher and co-advisor of the Nonnewaug Athletes’ Council, had a new idea and a new cause for this year’s theme.
“I have a friend who is a pediatric cancer nurse in the Yale New Haven Hospital system, and she asked if we do anything gold in September,” said Brennan. “I asked, ‘What do you mean by gold?’ and she said that gold is for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and not enough people know about it. Only 4% of the federal cancer research money goes towards childhood cancer, so I thought it would be a great connection for us as a high school.”
This year’s gold-out will be in support of pediatric cancer awareness and the Tommy Fund.
Declan Curtin, the assistant principal of NHS, is in full support of the idea and thinks it’s a great connection to his own “gold” — his students.
“We decided to use gold for the homecoming game to bring recognition to the Tommy Fund for Childhood Cancer,” said Curtin. “This was one of our Athletes’ Council’s ideas to bring everyone together to have a fundraiser for the entire school and community. The Tommy Fund chose gold for a very specific reason: They believe that gold is a very precious metal and reflects the values of children, and children are our gold.”
Lincoln Nichols, a senior member of Athletes’ Council, helped to decide on the new theme and thinks it will help Nonnewaug’s spirit in addition to the cause.
“The process was [finding] something that will bring awareness while also improving school spirit and unity within Nonnewaug,” said Nichols. “I think student participation will be increased when there is a cause or reason behind it.”
Along with others, Brennan thought the new color and cause would be a good way of raising money in order to help those with pediatric cancer.
“I was also introduced to the Tommy Fund, which specifically works to provide resources and assistance to childhood cancer patients and their families right here in Connecticut,” said Brennan
Sophia Garguilo, a junior, sees the gold-out as a way to raise both awareness and money for the Tommy Fund. Athletes’ Council will sell gold accessories, host a bake sale at the games, and encourage students and staff to participate in Hats for Hope, in which people can donate $1 to wear a hat to school.
“By hosting the gold-out our school will hopefully raise some money to send to the Tommy Fund to help those in need,” Garguilo said.
Nichols thinks that the games are a great opportunity not only for the fund but also the students and athletes. The field hockey and soccer teams will host rival Shepaug, while the volleyball team will host Gilbert and the football team will welcome Thames River.
“I think this is a great day for Nonnewaug to come together to support not only the childhood cancer cause but also our hardworking athletes,” said Nichols. “To have one day where all fall teams play at home, that is something special. It’s gonna be a blast and I think everyone is ready to support and have fun.”
Curtin is hopeful that he will see participation from NHS as the school raises money for an important cause while remembering the meaning behind the gold.
“That’s pretty special and something that should stick in your mind,” said Curtin. “We all associate pink with breast cancer in October; hopefully we will bring recognition that gold is for the youth, for kids who are young and struggling with cancer. [They] are in hospitals and have much more difficult days than any of us have had, and for that reason gold is the color, and gold is what we are going to represent this Thursday.”
Editor’s note: Nonnewaug will Go Gold this Thursday, Sept. 19 to support Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Thursday’s school day, pep rally, and home sporting events will be a gold-out as we encourage students and fans to wear gold to support the cause. We will also participate in Hats for Hope – students and staff can donate $1 to wear their favorite (or goofiest) hat for the day. Gold accessories will also be on sale at school and at our home games, and the Nonnewaug Athletes’ Council will host bake sales at all home sporting events (volleyball, boys and girls soccer, field hockey, and football). Woodbury Middle School students can also present their golden tickets for free admission. All proceeds will benefit The Tommy Fund, which supports childhood cancer patients and their families at the Yale New Haven’s Smilow Cancer Hospital and Children’s Hospital. If you’d like to make an online donation to Nonnewaug’s fundraising page through The Tommy Fund, click here.
