Flag football Ducks wearing pink to support coach’s mom, cause
When JoJo Atria’s mother Charlene Gerardi was diagnosed with breast cancer on March 30, the Plantation flag football coach wanted to do something to show his support. His Under-12 Division squad nicknamed the Oregon Ducks came up with the idea to make pink the uniform color for the entire season.
“We thought it was a unique way to show support for her and everyone else battling breast cancer,” Atria said. “The flag football season runs through the month of October, so you will see players wearing pink items during the games, but we decided to go all out.”
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the campaign is focused on awareness of the disease through early detection, education and support services. Even though more people are surviving the disease with early detection, there is someone being diagnosed every 10 minutes.
Charlene Gerardi is an avid sports fan, no matter the sport. The Plantation resident is a familiar face on the sidelines and can be seen cheering on all the young athletes.
Many of the players have grown up together competing in various sports with JoJo coaching and his younger brother Brandon Gerardi playing with them. The teammates have shown tremendous the cause.
“The team wearing pink this season is an awesome way to show support,” the 11-year-old Brandon Gerardi said. “For me, I like it because it means I support my mom and shows how much I love her. Every game is for her. Real boys wear pink.”
The league reaction to the team’s statement of wearing pink has been very supportive and positive. The family like atmosphere is conducive to everyone rallying around anyone who encounters any sort of a problem.
On the field, the players and coaches might be competitive, but values like sportsmanship, fair play and respect are more important than winning and losing.
Atria has been coaching flag football for five seasons and is a product of the PAL (Plantation Athletic League) system under which he played flag football, baseball and soccer. He has coached many of the players on the team since they were age 5.
“It has been pretty cool with the idea coming from the kids. We all talked about it before the season,” Atria said. “One of the parents brought the team pink socks to complete the uniform. It has been a team effort with the parents involved and I am very proud of the overall response. It shows support for my family and anyone else who is battling the disease.”
After solidarity in chemotherapy treatments, Charlene Gerardi was back on the sideline cheering on the troops. She remains a steady presence at practices and all games no matter how she is feeling. Her surgery is scheduled for the end of this month.
Futurevest@aol.com -- JoJo Atria, Plantation flag football coach