The Menlo School lacrosse teams launched a Play for Pink event to kick off a season-long effort to support breast cancer research this past weekend.

​Already, the effort has raised over $3000​,​ and pledges ​will be​ accepted​ through the rest of the ​girls’ and boys’ ​regular season​ for the Sharsheret Organization, a group that funds research for hereditary breast cancer.

Girls' and boys' lacrosse Play for Pink games
Credit: P. McKenneyEarlier this year, sophomore Ari Kaufman learned her mom Joelle would begin her fight as a cancer patient, joining Ari’s aunt and grandmother.

“As my mom began her treatment, different ideas on how I can help circulated through my mind,” Ari said. “From there, ‘Play for Pink Lax’ was born.”

Last weekend, not only did Knights players and coaches wear pink, so did family members, friends and the opposing teams. Both Mitty in the girls’ game Friday and Tamalpais in the boys’ game Saturday donned pink socks, and compression wear as a show of support. Like varsity boys’ lacrosse coach Blake Kim and assistant Cort Kim—whose mother fought cancer when the twins were teens—many have been affected or known someone who has breast cancer.