Aaron Depew, treasurer of the Butler boys soccer team, shakes hands with a representative of the Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute in Butler Wednesday. The soccer team raised money for the cancer center's patient fund.

Butler High School's boys soccer team battles more than its opponents each October.

It fights breast cancer as well.

For years, the Golden Tornado has used Breast Cancer Awareness Month to generate donations toward helping women cope with the disease.

“The heart of our season is October, so why not use that to raise some money for a good cause?” Aaron Depew, Butler boys soccer treasurer, said. “It's been a tradition of our soccer program, a part of our season, for a long time.

“I mean, it goes way back.”

Butler boys soccer has donated to the Susan Komen Foundation for many years. Three years ago, it raised approximately $2,000 dollars to benefit Butler teacher Julie Baccanti as she fought breast cancer. Baccanti donated much of that to the AHN Cancer Institute.

This year, the team raised $500 and presented a check in that amount to the AHN Cancer Institute Wednesday at its Pullman Square facility.

“I think it's awesome,” said Brenda Andreassi, a nurse navigator at AHN Cancer Institute. “We've had other organizations contribute to the cause in different ways.

“One provided stockings for the patients. Another provided holiday meals. For a group of young kids like this soccer team to think of other people like this and not themselves is impressive.”

Andreassi emphasized that all donations to the facility stay in the Butler community.

“The money helps provide wigs, assists on medical bills — however it's needed,” she said.

Depew said there was no big single donation made by anyone this year. The team raised the money through selling pink T-shirts and through a donation jar set up at the main gate for each home game.

Butler players wore pink T-shirts during warm-ups of every game they played in October.

Jennifer Rubcic was diagnosed with breast cancer in late September 2020. Her son, freshman midfielder Christopher Rubcic, plays for Butler.

“This cause is obviously very close to my heart,” Rubcic said. “My mother was diagnosed (with breast cancer) two years ago. We're both in full remission now.

“These boys care about this deeply. It's a great cause.”

Landon Mohney is a senior on Butler's team who broke the program's goal-scoring record last season. He said he's proud of the tradition the team has built in raising money to fight breast cancer.

“It feels good knowing you're part of a team that uses its season to raise money against this disease,” Mohney said. “When one of our teachers (Baccanti) got it ... that's close to home. It affects a lot if people, a lot of families.

“My grandfather donated this year. Players, parents, everybody in the program ... we just want to do our part.”