Lexington, SC 03/03/2025 - The Lexington High School Men’s Soccer team did an outstanding job again this year in raising money to support individuals fighting cancer. Each year as soccer season begins, the team also focuses on raising money for their Cats Kick Cancer Fund that is managed by the Lexington One Educational Foundation. The players sell Cats Kick Cancer bracelets prior to their annual February soccer tournament and secure sponsorship support based on goals scored during the season.
On Thursday, February 27, 2025, the Lexington High School Men’s Soccer Team, led by Head Coach Will Gettys and Assistant Coaches Chris Godwin, Grady Decell, John Harmon and Tanner Osborne, and LHS Principal Jennifer McNair presented a donation check for $5,000 to the leaders of the Lexington One Educational Foundation, which included Board of Directors Chair Bridget B. Winston and Executive Director Julie Anderson Washburn.
This Cats Kick Cancer effort started in 2011 and the team has raised more than $145,000 to date. In the past, the proceeds went to local nonprofits Camp Kemo and Children’s Chance. However, in 2018 Coach Will Gettys and his players decided to direct their fundraising proceeds to the Lexington One Educational Foundation to establish the Cats Kick Cancer Fund.
The Cats Kick Cancer fund supports members of the Lexington District One Family who are actively battling cancer and need financial grant assistance to make ends meet. Monies raised annually assist students, employees and parents of students who are fighting cancer. The Foundation already has an established program called the Lexington Emergency Assistance Plan, or LEAP, which assists Lexington One families in a crisis and need financial assistance to make it through a challenging experience. Accordingly, students and employees are referred to the Foundation’s Cats Kick Cancer Fund through the many volunteer LEAP representatives, as well as through school counselors, teachers and administrators.
Lexington One Educational Foundation Executive Director Julie Anderson Washburn shared, “It’s amazing what Coach Gettys and his players continue to do each year to support Lexington One family members who are struggling due a tough battle with cancer. This year the fund has supported a number of individuals and their families with rent, utility bills, food and medical assistance. We now have Cats Kick Cancer Blankets and cute stuffed Wildcats, too, that the LHS soccer players will give to the Cats Kick Cancer Fund recipients, in order to let every one of them know that the LHS Men’s Soccer Team supports them and cheers for them in their fight to battle cancer.”
Coach Will Gettys shared, “The Cats Kick Cancer fund has done a lot of different things to help individuals in our community and district over the years. One year a Lexington One mom touched my heart when she emailed about her child who was battling cancer. She shared how much the fund had helped her family and how she was in tears while writing to thank us for the CKC grant…One thing that is guaranteed here at Lexington High School is that we’re going to help others in the community. We want our players to become better people and the Cats Kick Cancer fund is a great way for them to connect and help family members who are battling cancer.”
