Skyla Holton had the greatest assist of the fall season.
And it wasn’t while she was on the field.
Holton is a senior at Benjamin Rush High School, and during the summer, she approached her coach Todd Corabi about organizing a Pink Out fundraising activity.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the plan was to make the donation, which was to raise money through fundraising events, including a bake sale.
“In my senior year, I knew I wanted to make a meaningful impact at Rush, but I wasn’t sure how; until I remembered the Pink-Out game my sophomore team had done,” Holton said. “While that event was sort of last minute, the idea of connecting it to breast cancer awareness in October inspired me. I took the initiative by speaking with my captain, Natalie Santiago, and my coach, Todd Corabi, who helped bring the vision to life.”
It didn’t take much to get the coach and the rest of the school involved.
“During the summer, Skyla Holton reached out to me and asked if we could do a Breast Cancer Awareness event,” Corabi said. “I was supportive but cautious. I said if they did this, it wouldn’t just be wearing pink and talking a big game. They needed to act in service. And I also said I didn’t want them to give the donation to an organization because as great and as crucial as they are, a lot of the donations often go to overhead and operating cost.
“I wanted 100% of the donation to be used immediately by someone who was fighting breast cancer now. My only other concern was (that) she would have big ideas, but the time would be too short to implement it. But when she brought it up at a team meeting, she had 100% buy in right away on the spot. It was pretty magical.”
Even more magical was she knew the money was going to someone who truly needed it because she was battling the deadly disease.
It turned out, it was in the Rush family.
Serena Ornedo, also a member of the Rush girls soccer team, had an aunt who was battling breast cancer. The team decided to give the donation to her to help her in her fight.
She not only got the donation of $500, the maximum a school program is allowed to donate to an outside entity, but she got the love and support of the entire Rush community, and especially the soccer team.
“To raise awareness beyond just our game, I created an online infographic for our team’s Instagram, @aabr.soccer, sharing breast cancer risks and symptoms that many might not know,” Holton said. “A couple weeks before the event, we learned that my close friend and teammate, Serena Ornedo, had an aunt currently battling breast cancer, and we unanimously decided to donate to her family.
“I’m incredibly proud of what we accomplished together and grateful for the trust my team and coach placed in me to lead this meaningful effort.”
The team, coach and school were very proud of her efforts.
“During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, many young people usually get involved in local or even national events to raise funds for research and support services,” said principal Dr. Latoyia Bailey. “This year, it’s amazing to have students like Skyla and her whole team who are not only concerned for those battling breast cancer but to personally connect and support someone through this is truly a heartfelt inspiration. I am so proud of all of them. Their compassion and support is a true testament of the power of teamwork as well as perfect examples of the change agents we’re teaching them to become in the world.”
The gesture touched everyone involved with the soccer program.
Many teams preach family first, but this was the perfect example of being a championship soccer program.
“I was so excited about the idea of donating funds to a great cause like breast cancer,” Ornedo said. “When our soccer team first introduced the idea I immediately thought of my aunt and was so excited to donate it to a cause that she was affected by. I didn’t expect to be able to donate it directly to her and I could never express how much that meant to me. My aunt is so, so special to me and she is like my second mom. Helping one of my favorite people with my favorite team all in support and by my side, I felt in awe.
“I’m so eternally grateful for this amazing team and seeing that smile on my aunt’s face put into picture just how much this meant to her as well. Seeing her smile back at me as I embraced her for a hug with my teammates just over my shoulder was the best feeling in the world.”
It was a special day for a special program that does kind acts all the time.
And it’s why the leaders of the squad are so happy that they were able to carry out their mission.
“One admirable quality of our team is the love we share for one another runs so deep, it becomes limitless, serving strong for the loved ones of our teammates,” Santiago said. “That is what you saw that day, a family member in need of support while facing one of her toughest battles and a group of teenage girls with unwavering love coming together to support her in any way possible.
“I am beyond proud of what this team has done and hope to spread love and raise awareness for those who are still fighting this battle against breast cancer.”
