KICKS for CANCER & MIGHTY MOOSE 2021

“Bringing the Community Together for a Great Cause”—Coach Wells

Kicks for Cancer Weekend 2021
Saturday, September 25, 2021
-Kicks for Cancer
Sunday, September 26, 2021
-The Mighty Moose 5k

In late September, Kicks for Cancer brings together soccer players and fans at Concord-Carlisle High School in Concord, MA, to support local high school teams and to rally to advance ovarian cancer prevention. Players take to the fields wearing jerseys with the name of a loved one who has battled cancer displayed on their backs. This year, the fields will once again be filled with men’s and women’s soccer games starting early in the day and stretching into the evening.

Kicks for Cancer Weekend 2021
save the dates for
Saturday, September 25, 2021
-Kicks for Cancer
Sunday, September 26, 2021

About Lois Wells

To say that my mom was a wonderful person would be an understatement. She was a truly remarkable person: an amazing and devoted mother, a caring friend, a woman of strong faith, who lived a healthy life. When some abdominal discomfort eventually led her to a diagnosis of Stage Four Ovarian Cancer in 2006, our family was shocked given what a healthy person she was. We were even more shocked when, after a successful surgery to remove much of the cancer at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and seemingly successful chemotherapy treatments at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, she was unable to overcome her battle with cancer and passed away in March of 2007, less than a year after her initial diagnosis, at the age of 67. Throughout everything, she remained faith-filled, positive, upbeat, and optimistic, even when her prognosis became bleak.

Kicks for Cancer originated in 2007 as an idea – a way to honor the life and spirit of Lois Wells, the mother of Concord-Carlisle High School (CCHS) varsity soccer alums (1996-1998) Steve Wells and Dan Wells (1989-1990). After playing soccer for Connecticut College (1999-2002), Steve returned to CCHS as an assistant coach for the men’s soccer team in 2003. In 2009, Steve joined the CCHS Special Education department as tutor and has been a Special Education teacher since 2012. We asked Steve to share his thoughts on the history of Kicks for Cancer and its impact:

The First Kicks for Cancer Event–2007
The first Kicks for Cancer event was played at Memorial Stadium at CCHS in October 2007–a single game against Boston Latin High School. The idea of the game originated from the brilliance of CCHS coach Ray Pavlik who had rallied the team to do something to support me during a very difficult time for me after our mother’s death. Initially, CCHS staff had looked into doing a charity walk/run in memory of my mother, but when fundraising minimums made this impossible for a team of 20-plus players and coaches, Coach Pavlik came up with the idea of playing a benefit game where all of the CCHS players wore pink jerseys with ‘WELLS’ on the back to honor my mother. The first event was very successful and featured the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by members of the choir from my mother’s church, Grace Chapel in Lexington, MA, a ceremonial “first kick” done by my nephew Wells Ipema to the team captains, and many alumni in attendance. I was blown away by the $8,000 that we raised and donated in support of women’s cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Little did I know that this was only the beginning and would be much more than a one-time event.

Kicks for Cancer Expanded
I had assumed that the first Kicks for Cancer was just a one-time event, so when Coach Pavlik approached me the next season and said that the plan was to do it again, I was shocked–a great surprise! The event took off, eventually expanding into two games side-by-side in 2010, six games in 2011 and sixteen soccer games in 2019. The Concord-Carlisle and Lincoln-Sudbury women’s teams first joined the Kicks lineup in 2013 to the delight of soccer fans. The most amazing thing was that each year we raised more money for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute than the previous year. Every time I was told how much money was raised, I was more and more blown away! The generosity of the CCHS community and now that of many other towns is indescribable. The time, effort, and energy that is put into Kicks for Cancer by Coach Pavlik and so many parent volunteers (as the event has grown, a committee had to be formed to handle all the various aspects of the event) is unbelievable.

Kicks for Cancer Today
Now, including the partnership with CCHS Field Hockey’s Sticks for Cancer, the CCHS Cross Country teams’ K(ilometer)s for Cancer, the CCHS Pink Dance, and The Mighty Moose 5k Run/Walk, Kicks for Cancer is the cornerstone of an incredible weekend which is so much more than just soccer. It truly brings the community together for a great cause, and I am beyond humbled and awed by the magnitude of the event. That, combined with the specific donation to Dr. Elias’s lab at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to fund ovarian cancer early detection and treatment efforts, makes me and so many others in the community proud to be a part of this event each year. Our commitment to cancer research and to the patients and families impacted by cancer is unwavering. Thank you to everyone involved–the players, the volunteers, and the community!

Events and towns supporting Kicks for Cancer!

Kicks for Cancer Weekend 2021
save the dates for
Friday, September 24, 2021
-Pink Dance (will be canceled this year due to Covid concerns)
Saturday, September 25, 2021
-Kicks for Cancer
Sunday, September 26, 2021
-The Mighty Moose 5k

Soccer Teams
Acton-Boxborough
Bedford
Boston Latin
Brookline
Burlington
Cambridge
Concord-Carlisle*
Holliston* (Field Hockey only)
Lincoln-Sudbury
Milton
Needham

Newton North
Newton South
Reading
Wakefield
Waltham
Wayland
Westford
Weston
Woburn* Soccer and Field Hockey teams

The Mighty Moose Fun Run/Walk is held in memory of Jenna Swaim, a loving mother and wife who lost her courageous four year battle to ovarian cancer on July 3, 2018. She was 43 years old. The name of the event is inspired by Jenna’s Alaskan roots, love for fun, and strength! The event is part of the Kicks for Cancer weekend, which is the very successful fundraiser that the Concord Carlisle High School soccer team and coaches Ray Pavlik & Steve Wells started in 2007.

Together, we will continue Jenna‘s legacy and vision to raise crucial funding for this cause. All funds raised will support the ovarian cancer research of Dr. Kevin Elias of Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Together we are making a difference!

Jenna Hoge Swaim, age 43, of Concord, Massachusetts, died peacefully at home on July 3, 2018, after a four-year battle with ovarian cancer.

Born in Anchorage, Alaska, Jenna grew up enjoying the majestic views and pristine landscapes of Alaska. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale University in 1996, where she played varsity soccer, earned multiple league honors, and served as the team captain her senior year. Upon graduation, she worked in investment banking at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley and received a Master of Business Administration from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College in 2001. She transitioned from finance to human resources and worked at OneBeacon Insurance and PeopleFluent, all while raising her young family. Jenna thrived in and loved her career.

Jenna met Derek Swaim the first weekend at graduate school. They shared passions for sports, the outdoors, and traveling and after getting married settled in Concord, Massachusetts. She cherished nothing more than Derek and their three beautiful children Luke, Jason, and Nora, and she put all of her incredible spirit, talent, and energy into her family. They brought smiles and laughter to her heart every day. Jenna was active in her community and tirelessly supported her children’s schools, clubs, and abundant activities, always cheering for, and often coaching, them and their teams. With her family, she enjoyed hiking, biking, running, golfing, skiing, and the outdoors, and together they traveled extensively.

Her extended family and friends were also very important to her. Jenna possessed a gift for forming lasting friendships wherever she went. She loved getting family and friends together. She was tremendously thankful for all the support that her sister, family, friends, neighbors, and children’s teachers provided to her family and her.

Her positive and kind attitude was infectious. She will be remembered by the many lives she touched for her bright smile, humility, thoughtfulness, strength of character, and dedication to every endeavor. Jenna loved life, cherished it, and lived it to the fullest. She was extremely grateful and felt lucky to have had such a full life in a short period of time.

-The Mighty Moose 5k