PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots women's soccer team has dedicated the month of October to breast cancer awareness and has partnered with Portland Gear in designing a shirt that will be available for fans to purchase at all home games during the month. All proceeds from the sales of the shirt will be donated to the American Cancer Society.
 
Individuals can also sign up to make a donation for every goal the team scores in October by visiting the website https://pledgeit.org/kickcancer.
 
"This is something near and dear to my heart because this is something that runs in my family," said women's soccer senior Jess Kennedy, who is helping spearhead the project. "My freshman year at UP was the year my grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer and ever since then I have played every game here at the university for her. I'm thankful my grandma is among the group of strong men and women who beat this cancer, and she continues to live her life the way she chooses."
 
Portland Gear is a local apparel brand popular among the school and city, and Kennedy hopes the shirt will get the UP campus excited to wear pink and become aware.
 
The team is planning on wearing pink at their games during the month, and they'll be making appearances around the community, at rallies, and awareness walks. The Pilots are also developing a Breast Cancer Committee that will be involved with the team and act as an advocate on campus.
 
Information centers will be available at home games where fans can receive more information and make donations, and the Portland Gear shirts can be purchased in the Merlo Field plaza, just inside the main entrance.
 
"Our main goal is to get the conversation started and provide individuals with information about breast cancer and of course, getting the campus as pink as possible," added Kennedy. "We wanted to dedicate the whole month of October to talking about it, raising awareness on campus and being the platform for individuals affected by this disease to feel loved and cherished."