Justin Crew has been cancer-free for 21 years.

He has also been the head coach of the Goshen College women’s soccer team for just about a month.

How do these two things connect?

September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, and the women’s soccer team is helping the close-to-home cause by highlighting the disease during their Sept. 11 home game vs. Holy Cross College.

Crew shared his story of battling pediatric cancer with the women’s soccer team early on in the season, and instantly the women knew they wanted to support their coach and many others in any way they could.

“The team has become super excited. It’s so great to watch a huge group of 30 people rally around one cause,” said Kaitlyn Begley, a junior and captain of the team.

The team has partnered with Go4TheGoal, a nonprofit dedicated to “battling cancer by providing financial support, developing and implementing unique hospital programs, funding innovative research and granting personal wishes,” according to their website.

The soccer team hopes to raise $1,000 by the time of their upcoming game to donate to the Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas. They plan to accomplish this through donations and profits made from selling old women’s soccer jerseys.

The team has dedicated a lot of time and energy to meeting their $1,000 mark, said Begley.

“We [have] girls making pictures, sharing them on social media—and most importantly, caring!” said Begley.

For GC community members that wish to donate, donation buckets will be available at women’s soccer games leading up to Sept. 11. Donations can also be made at any time by sending cash or checks to Justin Crew. Checks can be made out to Goshen Women’s Soccer and designated for pediatric cancer.

The women’s soccer team has started their season strong after getting off to a 3-1 start. The team looks to use their momentum, coming off of a dominating 5-0 victory over Bluffton University, to continue their winning ways.

Come support the team and the awareness for pediatric cancer this Tuesday, Sept. 11 at the John Ingold Athletic Complex. Spectators are encouraged to wear gold to the game as a sign of pediatric cancer awareness.