Panthers Unleashed: Gold Laces
Look down. More than likely, your shoes are laced up with white or black laces. They match your shoes. They match your outfit. If not, you are probably being asked why they don't match.
That question is one that the Chapman University volleyball team, along with other teams in the SCIAC, have fielded over the past week. September has been designated as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and the Panthers, as well as their counterparts in the SCIAC, have laced up their volleyball shoes with gold laces to help raise the awareness.
Go 4 The Goal was established in 2006 in an effort to raise money for families battling through a pediatric cancer diagnosis. "Our unwavering mission is to improve the lives of children battling cancer by providing financial support, developing and implementing unique hospital programs, funding innovative research, and granting personal wishes," the website proudly states.
In 2011, Go 4 The Goal began its Lace Up program in response to youth soccer teams wanting to show their support and help spread awareness. The program has expanded to high school, college and professional athletes joining the cause and sporting the gold laces.
The Panthers laced up their shoes before their matches on Sep. 1 and immediately began to field the question, "Why do you have gold shoe laces?" The Panthers proudly answer the question to help raise awareness for the cause and will continue to do so for the entire month of September.
Cal Lutheran head coach Kellee Roesel brought the Lace Up program to all of the SCIAC coaches prior to the season and Chapman coach Mary Cahill immediately agreed to support the cause. It is a cause that hits close to home for many at Chapman after the loss of Carter Ankeny nearly a year ago. Carter joined the Panthers' baseball team through Team Impact in 2016 while he fought cancer.
For senior Courtney Justus, the cause hits another personal note. During her childhood, her cousin lost a fight with pediatric cancer. "This is a cause that struck a chord with me so I really like that we're doing this. I thinks it's really cool that other SCIAC teams are doing it as well."
Coach Cahill purchased the laces and the team gladly laced up, except for freshman Sophie Srivastava. Her shoes are laceless and she was left without the traditional way to put the gold laces on her shoes. After a bit of brainstorming, junior Nayelli Munoz found a way to "lace up" the shoes and strung the gold laces through a seam down the middle of the shoe.
Go 4 The Goal sells the laces on its website for $5 with $4 going directly to the cause of helping kids with cancer and their families in the state that the funds are raised. Go 4 The Goal also puts 100 percent of donations into its mission.
Whether you are out at the Cal Lu Fornia Classic this weekend or taking in a match in the Hutton Sports Center, you may hear the question, "Why are they wearing those gold laces?" Please lean over and help spread the awareness during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
By Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director
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