Marshall Democrat-News: Column: By SCOTT LATHAM/Marshall Activities and Athletics Director: School News: 'Football in Pink' grows into 'Week in Pink' with more activities to support cancer cause

Three years ago when we started to have conversations about a football game in pink, some people looked at us like we were crazy.

We heard comments that "the team won't play in pink," or "why pink?" or "I will not wear that!"

As time got closer something very special started to happen.

The idea of pink grew, more of our teams wanted to be involved, and a one-night event turned into the "Week In Pink."

Teams throughout the week played in pink T-shirts and community involvement soared beyond expectation.

Our elementary schools, St. Peter Catholic School, Marshall High School and local businesses involved themselves in our "Pennies From Heaven" campaign that led to our local banks donating their time to count over $4,000 in pennies.

With T-shirt sales, donations and the BMS Walk-A-Thon, our community raised over $10,000 toward the Fitzgibbon Community Cancer Center.

As we approach our second "Week in Pink" (Sept. 28-Oct. 3) we again have our teams participating in pink throughout the week leading up to our Friday football game against Fulton (7 p.m.).

This year we have expanded the week's events one more day. On Saturday Oct. 3, Fitzgibbon Hospital is hosting a 5K run that will start near the MHS Athletic Complex ticket booth and end on the Wayne O'Neal track.

At 7:30 that evening Fitzgibbon Hospital is hosting "Movie Night in the Outfield" at the MHS baseball field.

We are excited to bring the community of Marshall together to support our local hospital, and to see that "Pink Fever" is catching on. Football in pink will happen this year at other school's including Concordia, Wellington-Napoleon, and Lawson (there may be others we have not heard of yet).

We look forward to seeing you throughout the week to help support the fight to find a cure for cancer.

The events for the week include:

--Monday, Sept. 28,

girl's tennis at Boonville at 4:30 p.m., boy's soccer at Hannibal at 5 p.m., JV football at Hannibal at 6 p.m., home softball vs. Hannibal at 5 p.m. and home volleyball vs. Chillicothe at 5 p.m.

--Tuesday, Sept. 29, boy's swimming at Harrisonville, boy's Soccer at Warrensburg at 5 p.m., softball at New Franklin at 5 p.m., home girl's golf tournament at 9 a.m.

--Wednesday, Sept. 30, home freshman volleyball vs. West Junior High at 6 p.m., Powder Puff Game at Cecil Naylor Field at 7 p.m.

--Thursday, Oct. 1, girl's tennis at Columbia Hickman at 4 p.m., cross country at Moberly invitational at 4 p.m., boy's soccer at Moberly at 5 p.m., home volleyball vs. Kirksville at 5 p.m., home softball vs. Moberly at 5 p.m. and home freshman football vs. Hannibal -- 6 p.m.

--Friday, Oct. 2, boy's swimming at Raytown invitational, home varsity football vs. Fulton at 7 p.m.

--Saturday, Oct. 3, Fitzgibbon Pink 5k run at 8 a.m. registration (at ticket booth), 9 a.m. race time, home Marshall youth football at 4 p.m. and Movie Night in the Outfield (MHS Baseball Field) at 7:30 p.m.