Sports

Bergen Catholic Football Team Raises $3,600 for Breast Cancer Research

Bergen Catholic started the tradition four years ago of designating one home football game in October each season as their “Pink Out” game benefitting breast cancer awareness. In addition to donning pink apparel for the game, BC players, cheerleaders, and families raised money for the Englewood Hospital/Leslie Simon Breast Center and the American Cancer Society. This season, members of the BC football program proudly presented checks amounting to more than $3,600, split between both cancer charities thanks to the generosity of BC’s “Pink Out Day.” 

The donations primarily came from the sale of customized pink BC football t-shirts made for the event, a 50/50 raffle, proceeds donated from the BC concessions stand, and through generous donations from fans throughout the game on October 19th contest between BC and Friendship Collegiate Academy at Crusader Stadium in Oradell. 

“We really have Coach Nunzio to thank,” said BC football parent and cancer survivor Doreen Dittfield. “He [Nunzio] is the one who wanted the month of October to mean something more to the boys than just wearing pink to look cool. Knowing I went through breast cancer a year and a half ago, he approached my son and asked what he thought we should do to ‘make the boys realize this is real.’ From there Mary Beth Brace and I put our heads together and came up with a few ideas that were able to raise some money while making the boys realize this terrible disease effects so many of us.” 

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Before the game, both teams and fan bases participated in a ceremony honoring all family and  friends who have been affected by cancer. All cancer survivors present at the game were  honored in the crowd and presented with a token of appreciation by the Bergen Catholic  Touchdown Club. The BC football program will look to build on this great donation number next season during the program’s fifth annual “Pink Out Day.”

Submitted by Dan Long, sports information director at Bergen Catholic High School

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