MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC Continues Kick Childhood Cancer Month Activities at this Wednesday's Match against FC Dallas

Published on September 16, 2019 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


SEATTLE, WASH. - Throughout the month of September, Sounders FC and MLS WORKS are working to Kick Childhood Cancer. In its sixth year, the league-wide childhood cancer awareness campaign combines special game presentation elements with individual club programs. The Rave Green have been dedicated to creating many inspiring and empowering experiences for youth battling cancer and their families throughout the season but particularly during this month, and the efforts are to be highlighted this Wednesday evening during a Western Conference matchup against FC Dallas in a 7:30 p.m. PT kickoff at CenturyLink Field (JOEtv, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).

Like earlier home games this month, fans will continue to see distinctive gold elements throughout the match on Wednesday, including a commemorative gold adidas Nativo Questra 2019 Official Match Ball, gold corner flags and gold goal nets. Kick Childhood Cancer gold captain's armbands and gold ribbon jersey patches will be worn by the players, while coaches and technical staff will wear Kick Childhood Cancer caps and pins on the sideline. Team will also wear gold pre-match tops for opening processions.

These gold pre-match tops are available for purchase at The Pro Shop at CenturyLink Field and MLSstore.com. Additionally, fans can also choose to round up their purchase price from The Pro Shop and proceeds will be donated to Strong Against Cancer at Seattle Children's Hospital.

Prior to the match, fans stop by Soccer Celebration to purchase a unique scarf from Sounders FC 2019 Community MVP Christine O'Connell and her Scarves Fighting Cancer campaign. All proceeds raised benefit Strong Against Cancer at Seattle Children's Hospital.

BloodWorks Northwest will also be onsite in Soccer Celebration to encourage fans to sign up for the popular blood drive initiative, "Out for Blood with Zach Scott." On September 20-21, the Rave Green is teaming up with BloodWorks Northwest and Slalom for the third annual event, a special blood drive now expanded to three locations throughout the Puget Sound region. Fans can donate in The NINETY on September 20, or at BloodWorks NW centers in Kirkland and Marysville on September 21.

Every fan that gives blood at any of the three locations receives an autographed 2019 Out for Blood t-shirt presented by Slalom and autographed by Scott, former Sounder and current Slalom employee. Space for fans to donate as part of the Out for Blood initiative is limited and an appointment is required, so those interested in taking part should register at SoundersFC.com/BloodDrive.

The first 10,000 guests through the gates on Wednesday will receive a Sounders FC blanket, courtesy of Zulily.

At every Sounders FC home match, not just in September but throughout the entire season, Seattle Children's and Austen Everett Foundation collaborate to identify a local youth who is battling cancer or is in remission. The youth is featured in the Delta Starting XI as Sounders FC Honorary Team Captain and is cheered by fans as they take part in the opening ceremonies. Wednesday's Sounders FC Honorary Captain presented by Strong Against Cancer is 11-year-old Gabriel, who is battling leukemia. Gabriel will meet the team and attend training on Tuesday, September 17, be featured pre-match on Wednesday, and will participate in the Zulily Dream Team, holding hands and walking out with the Sounders FC captain. Gabriel will also receive a pre-match locker room tour complete with a personalized locker of his own and will participate in the coin toss.

Wednesday's Zulily Dream Team features kids who are fighting cancer or are in remission and their siblings, along with the children of childhood oncology doctors from Seattle Children's Hospital. These special young people have the opportunity to walk out onto the pitch side-by-side with players to take part in opening ceremonies while wearing an official uniform that is theirs to keep after the match. The match ball is also being delivered by four-year-old Maceo, an Austen Everett Foundation youth who is battling cancer.

Scarves Up is set to be led by Bheem Goyal, the breakout Sounders FC star who joined the club as a guest goalkeeper in its July friendly against Borussia Dortmund as part of Make-A-Wish Alaska & Washington. Goyal's younger brother, Arjun, will help his brother with the special moment.

At halftime, 25 kids battling cancer or in remission and their siblings will be recognized on-field and presented with Sounders FC jerseys courtesy of Zulily. These young people are connected to Austen Everett Foundation and have all received treatments at Seattle Children's Hospital.

Lexus will also present RAVE Foundation with a check for $10,000 at halftime as part of the ONE Mile = ONE Ball program. For every mile run by Sounders FC players during home matches this season, Lexus makes a donation to support RAVE Foundation's goal to provide high-quality soccer balls to children in underserved communities throughout the Puget Sound region.

Sounders FC partners Zulily and Alcatel are also supporting the Kick Childhood Cancer efforts. Zulily is providing its corporate suite, complete with food and beverage, to kids battling cancer and their families via the Austen Everett Foundation. Alcatel is donating eight sideline seats to the match to two families affected by childhood cancer.

Following a 4-2 win over New York Red Bulls on Sunday, Sounders FC (14-9-7) now holds sole possession of second place in the Western Conference with 49 points, with four games remaining in the 2019 regular season.

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 16, 2019


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