Mackensey Jack, a player on the Freeport varsity girls volleyball team, wears a pink uniform the team uses during its two games in October.

BUFFALO TWP — The Freeport varsity girls volleyball boosters serve to support breast cancer awareness during two special games in October.

Kris Wolff of the boosters organization said the team holds events at two Breast Cancer Awareness Games each year. This year, the games are today and Oct. 16.

An announcement precedes the games in which information is shared with the crowd regarding breast cancer, early detection and breast cancer resources.

The team wears pink uniforms and those attending the two games are encouraged to help the team achieve a “pink out” by wearing pink clothing to the games.

Proceeds from the pink concession stand at the two games benefits a person in the district who is fighting breast cancer, Wolff said.

While they haven't done it in a few years, a recognition ceremony also was held at the first Breast Cancer Awareness Game, where the survivors in the crowd receive a pink carnation from a volleyball player.

The recognition ceremony is close to the heart of Wolff, a breast cancer survivor who on Oct. 1 marked her six-year anniversary of being cancer free.

Wolff was recognized as a survivor a few years back, when she was invited to the game by a friend so Wolff could be recognized.

When Wolff initially balked, her friend, also a survivor, offered some sage advice that Wolff will never forget.

“She said 'It's important for people to see us as survivors and that we are living and breathing right here in our own community,'” Wolff recalled.

Two years ago, a set of twins who were Freeport juniors at the time watched as their grandmother fought breast cancer.

That year, the proceeds from the Breast Cancer Awareness games were given to the girls' grandmother.

“It's not a lot of money, but it's a gesture that was close to us because it was one of our own, essentially,” Wolff said.

She said spreading awareness that one in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer per year — and that men can get breast cancer — will be a major focus of the Breast Cancer Awareness games.

“We want people to really take it seriously,” Wolff said. “It really is about early detection.”