Every September, communities come together during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month to recognize children and families impacted by this disease. Gold is the awareness color for childhood cancer, which is why many schools host “Gold Out Games.”
By wearing gold and coming together on game day, students, families, athletes and community members can show their support, raise awareness and help shine a light on the fight against childhood cancer.
Gold out games are often football games where students, fans and athletes wear gold to show their support for childhood cancer awareness. Schools can also raise money through Gold Out T-shirts, canning, donations and other activities.
Golden School Spirit
Mini-THON® schools begin preparing their fundraising efforts for childhood cancer awareness as soon as the school year begins. For many schools, Gold Out Games are an early opportunity to bring students and their communities together For The Kids®.
At Cumberland Valley High School, the celebration starts two hours before kick-off with a Gold Out Tailgate. The school shared that the event includes paint wars, a petting zoo, a dunk tank, raffles and yard games.
The paint war is one of the most popular activities. Students pay to participate, making it both a fun way to kick off the game and an opportunity to raise money for their Mini-THON. The school also promotes the event, so students, families and community members know how they can get involved.
Rivals on the Field, Partners In The Fight™
High School rivalries can make a big game even more exciting. For the past 11 years, Neshaminy High School and Pennsbury High School have used their rivalry to raise money for their Mini-THONs.
Neshaminy shared that incorporating Mini-THON into the rivalry game gives students another reason to get involved. The two schools work together to create Gold Out merchandise and find new ways to build excitement around the game.
One of their biggest fundraisers happens during halftime, when the schools come together to see which side of the field can raise the most money.
Pennsbury High School shared an important reminder: Even if one school raises more money than the other, every dollar goes to the same important cause.
Beat Cancer Games
Dallastown High School has its own take on Gold Out Games. The school calls its events Beat Cancer Games.
Football is the school’s biggest Beat Cancer event, but other sports, including soccer and volleyball, also take part throughout the year. One of their biggest fundraisers is their Beat Cancer shirt sales. Students can buy the shirt in different colors and wear them at events throughout the year.
These games have become a meaningful way for the Dallastown community to come together, support Four Diamonds and help fight childhood cancer.
More Than a Game
At the heart of every Gold Out Game is a simple goal: bring people together to fight childhood cancer.
From Friday night football games to school wide events, students have many ways to get involved. T-shirt sales, tailgates, canning, raffles and donations can all turn school spirit into support for children and families facing childhood cancer.
For Mini-THON schools, there are endless ways to make a Gold Out Game their own. This September, whether you lead or participate in Mini-THON, are interested in Mini-THON for your school or show up as a spectator to cheer on your team, you can help turn game day into a chance to stand together, raise awareness and fight childhood cancer For The Kids.
