September means it’s Kicks for Cancer time
On September 27, the upper turf at CCHS will come alive with cheers as the community gathers for this beloved tradition.
It feels like only yesterday the ground crunched with autumn leaves, the air held a refreshing chill, and orchards brimmed with crisp apples. September is here again, and in Acton, Carlisle, and 20 surrounding towns, it means one thing: Kicks for Cancer.
On Saturday, September 27, 2025, the upper turf at Acton-Carlisle High School will come alive with cheers as the community gathers for this beloved tradition.
Established in 2007, Kicks for Cancer started as a single soccer game organized by Ray Pavlik to honor Lois Wells, mother of CCHS alumni Steve and Dan Wells, who lost her battle with ovarian cancer that year. Since then, it has grown into an annual daylong event, bringing local communities together to raise funds for groundbreaking ovarian cancer research led by the renowned Dr. Dipanjan Chowdhury at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Last year’s celebration was the biggest yet, expanding into a weeklong event involving various sports and community groups. Kicks raised a record $155,000 for Dana-Farber in 2024, bringing total donations to more than $1 million. It is now the largest Jimmy Fund school-based fundraiser.
Perhaps most remarkable is the establishment of the Acton-Carlisle Kicks for Cancer Fund at Dana-Farber. This fund allows year-round fundraising, giving all sports teams the opportunity to host events during their seasons. It also ensures our community receives direct research updates from the renowned Dr. Chowdhury’s lab.
Kicks for Cancer has become more than a fundraiser. It’s a symbol of unity, a rallying cry, and a way to honor both survivors and those we’ve lost. Now the countdown begins, patches of pink begin to flourish across town, and the hill waits for the voices of hundreds to rise together in the autumn air: “One Community. One Goal.”
Dylan Yang
Central Street
CCHS Class of 2027
