Kick Away Cancer: Capstone Project

Capstone Projects are fueled by a sincere passion for a specific cause and a desire to go above and beyond to support that cause. Nicole Beachy and Lauren Tope found that combining their passions with an important need was the easiest part of organizing their Capstone Project, the Kick Away Cancer 3v3 Soccer Tournament. Lauren and Nicole have been teammates on the field since third grade, and best friends off the field for the past eleven years. Their shared love for the game and personal connections with the impacts of cancer motivated them to organize the Kick Away Cancer Soccer Tournament, benefiting the ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation. ASK is an amazing organization that has spent over forty years providing emotional, educational, and financial support to children and families undergoing cancer treatment. The tournament included elementary, middle, and high school kids from all over the Midlothian area, and allowed them to compete in games against kids in their own age bracket. While the atmosphere was competitive and the players wanted to win, the primary reason that over 100 participants registered to play was to have fun while benefiting a great cause.

The tournament was a success, and all the players had a great time playing soccer with their peers. In addition to exciting 3v3 games, attendees enjoyed music, complimentary snacks, a silent auction, sideline games such as corn hole and “Spike Ball”, lunch provided by Carytown Burgers and Fries, and an informational station about the ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation. Although the event had to be moved inside due to the unanticipated snowfall earlier in the week, everything ran smoothly and indoor soccer proved to be just as fun as outdoor. Lauren and Nicole are incredibly excited about how Kick Away Cancer turned out, and are looking forward to making their final donation to the ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation!