The Knoch girls soccer team bought and wore yellow shoelaces Monday night, as did the Mars girls for their rivalry game at Knoch's stadium. Yellow is the color of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and the money spent on the laces were donated to the cause.

JEFFERSON TWP — The gold shoe laces worn by members of Knoch and Mars' girls soccer teams Monday night may have matched each squad's uniform.

But they meant so much more than that.

Gold is the color signifying Childhood Cancer Awareness. The shoe laces cost $5 per pair and, along with fundraising efforts by Knoch's girls soccer team, all proceeds will go to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh to be put toward research and helping under-privileged families who have children diagnosed with cancer.

First-year Knoch coach Kevin Wood planted the seed for the fundraiser at the start of camp five weeks ago. Collection of donations began last week.

“It was my idea, but the girls have handled it,” he said. “I want to instill better leaders in the community. I'm so impressed with my girls. They really took the bull by the horns.”

Wood had his players visit a website that detailed the ordeal of a child from New Jersey who died from cancer six months after his diagnosis.

“Half of the girls came back to me crying,” he said. “I could've chosen any charity, but the driving force behind me picking this one is that I have a cousin, Shane Lisman, who had cancer as a kid and survived.”

Amber Lisman, a senior on Mars' girls team, is Shane's older sister.

“He was diagnosed with thyroid cancer when he was 12-years old,” she said. “He's a sophomore now. This cause is close to my heart.”

Mars coach Blair Gerlach said his team was very receptive to the idea of buying and wearing the gold laces.

“We've all been touched by cancer in some way,” he said. “Unfortunately, cancer is so prevalent. We're more than willing to contribute to a cause like this.”

Knoch senior Maddie Abriatis was eager to contribute from the start.

“My initial reaction was that it's a great opportunity for the community,” she said. “I knew two kids who died from cancer. It's awful.”

Aside from money raised through the purchase of the shoe laces, donations were also accepted during a penalty-kick contest at halftime of Monday's game. Team members will also be collecting money in between periods at school this week. On Oct. 1, several Knights will be set up outside Sam's Club in Butler Township to accept people's generosity.

“Our target is $2,500 and we've already raised $500,” said Wood. “I had a kid come up to me and say, 'I don't play soccer, but what can I do to help?'”

Knoch senior captains Lauren Betts, Allie Gore and Abriatis have headed the players' efforts.

“I'm happy to be doing this,” said Gore. “It shows people we are about more than just playing soccer.”

There are frivolous activities and gadgets pulling at teenagers for their attention these days, but Knoch's involvement in this cause proves that sometimes they just need to be nudged in the right direction.

“We really didn't do much the last few years as far as getting out in the community and fundraising,” said Betts. “But you look around and you see kids with cancer and you realize that not everybody is as lucky as you are.”