Oakland Outlaws host charity game for breast cancer awareness

Sophie Hume

The Oakland Outlaws Ultimate Frisbee team wears pink headbands in anticipation for its upcoming charity game to benefit the American Cancer Society.

The Oakland Outlaws Ultimate Frisbee Club is going beyond wearing pink by taking action over awareness for breast cancer.

The Oakland Outlaws Ultimate Frisbee team is hosting a charity game against Kettering University Ultimate on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 1 p.m. to benefit the American Cancer Society (ACS). Taking place in the track stadium, the club hopes to raise $1,000 through fan donations at the free-admission pink out game.

The idea for the cancer awareness game came from club treasurer Jacob Lekki. Lekki’s grandmother serves as a key inspiration for the fundraiser.

“A couple of my grandmothers in my family have had breast cancer,” Lekki said. “One of my grandmothers has stage four breast cancer. She is kind of the inspiration behind [the breast cancer awareness game].”

Club President Clarence Round has also had family hit by breast cancer. Two of his aunts have survived breast cancer and are cancer-free today.

“It is a great honor to be able to do something that has affected my family and even some of the players on our team,” Round said. “Just to be able to give back is pretty cool, and do something that hopefully a lot of people on campus can come experience. Eventually, hopefully, in following years after I graduate, the team can make this a tradition every year.”

With the shared experiences of cancer scares and a love of ultimate frisbee, hosting a breast cancer awareness game was a no-brainer for the team.

“I am just so proud that we are actually able to [have the game] and that it got set up,” team member Meredith Stern said. Breast cancer runs in her family, and she once had a false alarm scare. “I have been looking forward to this for months now, and I am just hoping that a lot of people show up to support us and donate to the ACS.”

This is the first year for the breast cancer awareness game, and fans can expect to see various forms of fundraising at the event. With admission being free, the team hopes to meet the $1,000 fundraising goal through the sale of wristbands, baked goods and general donation collection after the game. Players will take to the field with pink headbands and ask that fans wear pink. A Crowdraise fundraising page is available for any online donations as well, with $270 donated as of Monday, Oct. 21. 

The Outlaws and Kettering are fierce rivals, and Round tells fans to expect an intense matchup.

“They are our rivals, so whenever we get to playing them, we are definitely playing our hardest to beat these guys,” Round said. “They beat us in the first scrimmage that we did this season, so this time our guys are a lot better. We are looking for revenge, to come back with the W and to raise money for our fundraiser.”

While supporting the ACS is a good cause, the main event is on the field. And in ultimate, playing hard means more than just throwing a disc.

“We go all out when we play, so you will see people full sprinting the entire length of the field, making beautiful throws and catches, even laying out to catch the disc,” Stern said. “We also have a super active sideline, and even the audience can participate by shouting ‘Up!’ whenever the frisbee is in the air.”