Kickin’ it to fight breast cancer returns

Registration: Now open. Last day to register is Thurs., May 5. 

Register and find out more about rules and schedules at www.kickinitchallenge.com.

Date: Sat., June 18 through Sun., June 19 

Time: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (both days)

Location:  Frances Ryan Park, 450 Hidden Trail Rd., Escondido, CA 92027

Registration continues through May 15 for The 5th Annual Kickin’ It Challenge soccer tournament. The tourney at Frances Ryan Park, Escondido will bring together San Diego and Southern California’s youth soccer teams Saturday, June 18 to Sunday, June 19 in the fight against breast cancer.

The companion Kickin’ It Challenge Gala Bash celebration will be returning for its second year as well. That’s from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, June 24  at Old Poway Park. Tickets are $75. This includes a silent auction, dinner, beer/wine, and dancing. Ticket sales continue through Wednesday, June 15.

“Our Kickin’ It Challenge brings family and friends together for a fabulous weekend full of soccer fun, enthusiasm, learning and a chance to give back,” said Bj Kelly, founding director and auction chair. “The chance to give back is more than donations but is also awareness.”

Founding director, Susan Filippone. added: “Our focus now includes the ever so important awareness Kickin’ It brings to the young players and their families. The sea of pink covers the field and the participation from the teams shows another power of pink—awareness. Our tournament has an impact on everyone that it touches.”

Kicking’ It participants like to have fun.

During the two-day soccer tournament, approximately 2,000 youth soccer players on 120 teams will be decked out in pink to take the field to participate in games that “Unite in the Fight” against breast cancer. The goal is to have fun while making a difference for the soccer moms in their lives as well as other San Diegans battling the disease.

As part of this unique tournament, there will be a Soccer Tournament Entry auction, which awards entries for soccer teams to the Carlsbad Cup, Coronado Holliday Cup, Copa Del Mar, RSF Summer Classic, and Pats Cup. There will also be two Power of Pink (POP) awards. Teams winning the POP awards will be granted free entrance to the 2016 Kickin’ It Challenge.

One hundred percent of proceeds raised at these events will benefit Susan G. Komen San Diego (Komen San Diego). Over the last four years, Kickin’ It Challenge events have raised more than $150,000 for Komen San Diego, making it one of Komen’s largest third-party fundraisers.

Visit the Kickin’ It Challenge website www.kickinitchallenge.com to register a team for the tournament; buy tickets for the gala; sponsor the tournament or gala; or to donate silent auction items to “Unite in the Fight.”