Our Cityzens: We Wear Pink

“My husband, Mike Bertone, started coaching football in 2001 with our oldest son, Thomas, and has been coaching Jupiter Mustangs Pop Warner Football for the past 13 years. For the last seven of those years, I have served as Team Mom.

As the Team Mom, I began a tradition with our team; I wanted these Pop Warner Football players to understand that football players wear pink during the month of October for a reason. This is not a fashion statement; this is not about wearing pink to be like the big boys in the ‘pros.’ It is a statement of supporting those affected by breast cancer. Whether they are currently fighting, have survived, or have lost their battle against breast cancer they deserve to be recognized for their fight.

I asked the team members and their families to submit names of loved ones we could play for then gave each player a small pink heart with the name of their special person painted on it. In each game in October, every player will play their game with this heart on the inside of their pink socks. Some of the kids do like to mix it up like the big boys in the NFL and wear pink shoelaces and others have additional pink items to show their support.

I try to impress upon the kids that we fight during the game as a tribute to those fighting for their lives against breast cancer. We fight for them to be strong and to bring awareness that cancer can affect anyone. We play our game and give 100 percent like they do everyday in their fight against breast cancer. The great part is the kids do understand they are playing for a cause and I love the bonding experience I get with the players and their families through this tradition. I love that my boys, year after year, remember the hearts and what it is all about.”

– Cathy Bertone