Kickin' It Challenge, San Diego's First Youth Soccer Tournament to benefit Breast Cancer Research and Support, announced for June 23rd-24th

All proceeds from the tournament will benefit the San Diego Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Breast Cancer Foundation. End Quote

San Diego, CA (1888PressRelease) March 27, 2012 - Soccer and breast cancer advocacy are coming together for the first time in San Diego. The Kickin' It Challenge, a two-day soccer tournament that will donate all proceeds to the San Diego Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Breast Cancer Foundation, was announced today for June 23rd-June 24th at the Frances Ryan Park in Escondido, Calif.

The tournament is the first of its kind in San Diego, hosted by the Poway Vaqueros, with fields provided by the City of Escondido. More than 120 youth soccer teams are expected to "Unite in the Fight" against breast cancer. The tournament hopes to raise at least $20,000 for the San Diego Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Breast Cancer Foundation and to show young soccer players how to make a direct impact in their community while doing something they love.

"Everyone knows someone impacted by breast cancer"," said Pam Bickel, President of Poway Youth Soccer. "Just in our club alone, we have a handful of survivors and we have lost more than one mom in the last couple of years to breast cancer. We felt it was time to bring a tournament to our community where funds raised will be donated to help local families struggling with breast cancer."

City of Escondido, E7 sports, Puma, Soccer Loco, and other organizations are sponsors of the tournament thus far. The venue for the event will be as unique as the tournament itself displaying pink field lines, tents, banners, referee flags and whistles. In addition to tournament winners, one team will receive the Pink Pride Award, given by the tournament directors, for the best showcase of breast cancer awareness and support.

"Our goal at Komen San Diego is to fund programs that will reduce breast cancer incidence and mortality within the next decade with increased emphasis on finding solutions for disparities in breast cancer across populations. That means putting our dollars toward cutting-edge programs with potentially huge outcomes," said Laura Farmer Sherman, Executive Director. "We are awarding these hard-fought funds to local organizations committed to outcome-based strategies and promising practices."
Tournament Director Toni DeCarlo anticipates that The Kickin' It Challenge will become an annual event that expands beyond San Diego. "Tournaments which fully support a cause we are all affected by is not only important for conquering breast cancer, but also educates our players about having fun AND being engaged community members," added DeCarlo.

Teams must register by May 20th via the tournament's website. To learn more about the tournament, rules, sponsors and schedules, visit: www.kickinitchallenge.com

About Kickin' It Challenge
The Kickin' It Challenge San Diego's first youth soccer tournament that benefits the San Diego Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Breast Cancer Foundation. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, and the Kickin' It Challenge is a response to the many affected by breast cancer in the soccer community. Over one hundred teams will "Unite in the Fight" against breast cancer in the first annual tournament, hosted by Poway Vaqueros and to be played at Escondido's Frances Ryan Park on June 23rd and 24th.
To learn more, visit: www.kickinitchallenge.com

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