From University of Rochester Athletics
The University of Rochester men's and women's soccer teams will be supporting the Go4theGoal Foundation by participating in the "Lace Up For Pediatric Cancer Initiative" during this weekend's UAA matches against the University of Chicago. The Yellowjackets will be wearing Go4theGoal's Gold shoelaces in order to raise awareness for local children battling cancer. All money raised will stay in the local community and support the pediatric oncology unit at the University of Rochester's Golisano Children's Hospital.
During this weekend's contests, members of the Rochester Varsity Student Athlete Advisory Committee (VSAAC) will have a table set up in the concourse of Fauver Stadium and will be accepting donations to directly benefit the Go4theGoal Foundation.
"UR Men's Soccer is excited to support Go4theGoal and wear our gold laces this weekend's Meliora Weekend game," said UR Men's Head Coach Chris Apple., "Go4theGoal provides outstanding programming for children with cancer across the country and right here in Rochester at our own Golisano Children's Hospital., It is an honor for our team to support this meaningful cause and the fight against pediatric cancer."
Currently, the UR men's team sports a 4-2-3 record and is 0-0-1 in UAA conference play while the women's team has a 4-4-1 record and is 0-1 in the UAA. Rochester soccer's "Lace Up" participation dates back to 2011.
"The UR women's soccer program is eager to once again lend our support behind the Go4theGoal campaign to help children affected by pediatric cancer, especially for our Meilora Weekend game," says UR women's head coach Sike Dardaganis. "The University of Rochester shares the ambitions of the Go4theGoal programs through our own Golisano Children's Hospital which provides exceptional care for children with cancer, and our team is very proud to be a part of Lace Up for the fight against pediatric cancer."
"It is always special having college teams participate in our Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer campaign," said Nate Mulberg, a Go4theGoal Athletics Coordinator and UR alum. "But it is especially exciting when teams with UR's track record get involved. Rochester runs a first-class soccer program and we at Go4theGoal are honored to have such an elite group helping in the fight against pediatric cancer, which is the number one disease killer of children."
ABOUT GO4THEGOAL FOUNDATION
Go4theGoal Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit charitable organization founded in 2006 by Dr. Richard and Beth Stefanacci, soon after their oldest child was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. 2012 and 2013 were very exciting years at Go4theGoal Foundation, whose two national campaigns, National Dress 4 Pediatric Cancer Day® and Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer®, gave hundreds of schools, businesses and sports teams an opportunity to raise awareness and much needed support for patients in their communities and earned Go4theGoal the honor of "Top Rated Non-Profit of 2012, 2013, & 2014" by Great Nonprofits., Go4theGoal provides children undergoing, cancer treatment, and their families with financial assistance, runs fun hospital-based programs, grants special wishes and supplies state-of-the-art electronic products to children and pediatric oncology units in over 70 hospitals across the country. Since 2007, G4G has funded nearly $1,000,000.00 in innovative pediatric cancer research. Go4theGoal.org