Cancer needs to watch its back this winter because the North Central College wrestling team is planning a takedown.  

For the past four years, the wrestling team has been involved with the College’s annual Relay for Life   event each April. Relay for Life is an all night relay walk or run that raises money for the American Cancer Society (ACS).  Many communities and schools participate in Relay for Life, honoring those that have lost their battle to the disease as well as those still fighting.  
In previous years, Cardinal wrestling has sold Fear the Bird t-shirts and even held an all-male car wash to do their part for Relay, fundraising at least $1,000 each year.  However, for the months of November and December, the wrestling team has created a new fundraising initiative for ACS, titled 'Taking Down Cancer.'  

Prior to the start of this season, each wrestler was responsible for securing pledged donations from individuals or businesses.  These sponsors have agreed to allot a specific amount of money for each victory and pin by their sponsored wrestler.  At the end of December all proceeds will go towards the College’s Relay for Life event in April, with the goal of raising at least $2,000. 

But the takedown doesn’t end there.  Each individual wrestler will also wear different colored shoelaces to raise awareness for a specific type of cancer.  Wrestlers will wear pink (breast cancer), purple (pancreatic cancer), lime green (ovarian cancer), white (bone cancer), grey (brain cancer), green (kidney cancer), light blue (prostate cancer), or dark blue (colon cancer). 

Additionally, the team will be selling pink 'Fear The Bird' T-shirts incorporating the phrase, 'Taking Down Cancer', on the back.  These shirts will be sold throughout the season and at home meets for $15 apiece.  The proceeds from the shirt sales will also go to the American Cancer Society.  

For more information about the 'Taking Down Cancer' initiative or to get involved with the effort, contact North Central head wrestling coach Kevin Bratland   at 630-637-5514.