Kick Cancer year 3 under way for parish high schools
Alexandria, La. — The 2024 high school football season has kicked off with high expectations for Rapides Parish schools. The season-long quest for district championships and deep runs in the state playoffs now includes the chase for the 2024 Golden Boot Award as Rapides Cancer Center’s third Kick Cancer partnership with Rapides Parish football teams enters its third year.
Kick Cancer provides the eight football-playing high schools in Rapides Parish the chance to earn money for their programs and for the American Cancer Society. Schools will earn $20 for every field goal made during the regular season and postseason, and $10 for every successful Point After Try (PAT) following touchdowns. Each school will receive a minimum $500 with a corresponding donation made to the American Cancer Society.
In 2023, Alexandria Senior High won the Golden Boot for the second straight year, raising $610 for its football program and the American Cancer Society through 44 PATs and 3 field goals. In all, $4,110 was raised for ACS.
“We are using the game of football to do so much more than just play a game on Friday night,” said ASH football coach Thomas Bachman. “Cancer impacts everyone, directly or indirectly, and this is a great way to for the young men who play football to understand the impact they can have in our community by raising money for the American Cancer Society.”
The annual cancer death rate in Central Louisiana is 175.3 per 100,000, which is on par with the state’s death rate. However, the cancer death rate for the country is 155.6. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Cenla, followed by breast cancer, prostate cancer and colorectal cancer. All are higher than the national average.
“We are proud to continue this program with our local high schools to raise money for the American Cancer Society, to raise money for their own programs and to raise awareness of the need for cancer screenings in our area,” said Charla H. Ducote, Vice President of Public Relations, Marketing and Business Development at Rapides Regional Medical Center.
Schools partnering with Rapides Cancer Center are Alexandria Senior High, Bolton Academy, Buckeye, Holy Savior Menard, Northwood, Peabody, Pineville and Tioga. The regular season begins Thursday, Sept. 5 and concludes the second weekend in November, with the state high school football playoffs beginning the following weekend. All playoff games count toward the total money raised.