Kickin’ for A Cure was Saturday

Local youth soccer teams engaged in friendly competition Saturday while uniting for a cause.

The South Point Youth Soccer League hosted the fourth annual Kickin’ for a Cure tournament Saturday. The two-day tournament took place in three locations: South Point youth soccer fields, the former South Point High School on County Road 60 and the new South Point High School off US 52. The field consisted of 40 teams from all over the Tri-State, including hosting team South Point, Ironton and Wheelersburg from Ohio, Boyd, Greenup, and Lawrence Counties from Kentucky and Wayne County, W.Va.

The tournament divided into seven divisions: Under 8 co-ed, Under 10 boys and girls, Under 12 boys and girls, Under 14 girls and Under 15/Middle School. The format was double elimination. Each team was guaranteed to play two games. After two losses, however, a team was ousted.

Still the cause was not lost amongst participants. Several players wore commemorative clothing such as shirts, bows and socks. Some of the players even spray painted their hair pink.

“The community gets together for this. A lot of families have been affected by the disease,” G.W. Rea, board member for the South Point Soccer League, said.

The disease particularly hits home for Chris Smith, president of the league. His wife Tracy is a breast cancer survivor. Smith decided to organize the tournament to raise awareness and help other families dealing with breast cancer.

“My mother-in-law passed away from cancer,” Rea said. “So it has affected my wife and I along with several other families.”

A portion of the proceeds from the tournament will go to St. Mary’s Medical Center. A Nintendo 3Ds and a 32-inch flat screen TV were raffled off.

A silent auction was also held. The proceeds from the auction will go to South Point kindergartener Beth Brown and her family.

Brown has been battling leukemia. Some of the items offered included three area rugs, candy and movie baskets, a fall decoration themed basket and a tool gift set.