The North Harford varsity football team recently raised over $700 for breast cancer awareness. Head coach and business teacher Gene Liebel encouraged the team to raise $400 in order to be able to wear pink gear for the month of October, and the team managed to exceed that goal.

“We wanted to hold ourselves to a higher standard and do what we thought was right,” said Liebel. “We were able to stay local while still fighting for the cause. Not all of the guys agreed with me, but at the end of the day, I still feel that we did what was best and made a difference.”

Senior team captain Scott Angstadt stepped up to lead the team in this endeavor according to Liebel. Angstadt did some research and found that the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake’s new cancer center utilizes the donated funds to their full capacity.

“As a team, we really came together. It was productive, we realized what it’s all about, read into it, and supported ones on the team that have family members or friends with cancer,” said senior football player Colton Geiger.

Next year the coaches have planned to start this endeavor sooner in September to give the team more time to raise funds for this cause.

“It was definitely a much more productive way to raise awareness and support for breast cancer,” said JV football coach Mark Filiaggi. “You know, if it doesn’t have anything behind it, it’s kind of hollow.”

The football team managed to surpass their original goal by over $300. According to Filiaggi, most of the donations were made by families.

“Raising money for breast cancer awareness to be able to wear our pink was the right thing to do for sure,” said Angstadt. “We worked towards a goal as a team; I hope that this becomes a tradition here.”