Team Up Against Cancer will host its second annual football game event to raise money for the Marie Yeager Cancer Center and Berrien County Cancer Service next month.

This year’s game will feature the Niles Vikings on the road against St. Joseph High School.

The fundraising event will begin at 5 p.m. Oct. 6, at the high school, 2521 Stadium, in St. Joseph. The game will kick off at 7 p.m.

Prior to the game, cancer survivors will take a walk around the track during a “Survivors Walk.” At the end of the game, anyone wearing merchandise from the TUAC will be invited down to the field to form a giant human ribbon.

In addition to watching local teams square off, those who attend will be treated to four different food trucks, including Panthers Grill, Mimi’s Cupcakes, Cravings and Zoup. Those attending the game can purchase $1 meal tickets to buy food. Twenty-five percent of the vendors’ proceeds will be put toward the fundraiser. 

Additionally, those interested in aiding the fundraiser can purchase tie dye shirts and hoodies. T-shirts start at $16 and hoodies start at $29. The merchandise must be purchased by Sept. 22. Those who wear the merchandise to the game will get in for free.

The tie dye symbolizes all cancers, said Regina A. Ciaravino, the TUAC chairperson.

“We have local businesses that have monetarily supported the purchase of this apparel, so all the profits from the actual sales will go directly to cancer resources,” Ciaravino said.

Last year, TUAC was able to raise more than $10,000 for the cancer patient aid services. This year, Ciaravino hopes to double the amount. The amount raised will be split evenly between the two cancer resources.

“We anticipate that we’ll see a crowd that is double the size of last year’s event and are looking forward to raising a lot of money for our friends and neighbors [who] need cancer care,” Ciaravino said.

The third and final way that the organization raises money is through the sponsorship of the St. Joseph players’ jerseys. Those who sponsored a bright pink jersey for the cost of $150 were able to have a name of their choosing inscribed on the back.

With more than 9,554 cases added to the Lakeland Health Cancer Registry, Ciaravino said the organization wanted to find a way to support the cause at a local level.

Through the Marie Yeager Cancer Center, patients receive aid on a variety of services. In 2016,  $57,975 was used for mammography, cervical, lung, head and neck, colorectal and testicular screenings; transportation; chemotherapy and prescriptions; nutritional supplements; and garments, to name a few.

In 2016, the Berrien County Cancer Service provided 1,253 nurse visits with a nurse value of $206,080, Ciaravino said. The number of items that were loaned or given out free from their loan closet totaled over $30,000.

Ciaravino encouraged those in the Niles community to get involved.

“We all know someone who has been touched by cancer in some way,” Ciaravino said. “If they can’t come to the game, and they wanted to buy a T-shirt, what a small way to give back that will go a long way.”

To purchase merchandise, visit:

http://bit.ly/TUAC2017